I'm quite new and have a question about my transmission. I've got an automatic 93 Cherokee Sport which had just been stolen not too long ago and found around the corner with the column broken into.
We fixed the Steering column.

Once we tried to drive it, it was acting odd, it wouldn't actually drive when it was in drive, we had to drop it into low and let it inch it's way back into the driveway. The reverse works fine. So we let her sit in the garage for a while. (We did check the tranny fluid when it first acted weird, and it was perfect. It was running amazingly before it was stolen.)

The other day we went to move it into the backyard and it acted a little better, it drives in drive, but you have to let it roll to be able to get it going and it feels like it wont change gears. Reverse still works perfect and we found that the fluid was WAY over full. None of us had filled it that full. Color was good, still.

Neither my boyfriend, nor my dad have any idea what's really wrong with it. We know it's something with the transmission. Does anyone on here have any idea? Could it just be the fluid levels?
Thanks for your time. I miss my Jeep.

 

I would start by at least dropping the fluid level to where it should be.
I'd guess though that the thieves took it out and dogged it till it quit pulling and being thieves and not mechanics they assumed the tranny was low and just added to it.

The best thing about lowering the level is that it won't cost you anything to do it.
The worst case scenario is they burned the forward clutch packs out of the tranny and its going to need a rebuild.

 

That's what my boyfriend was talking about. The thieves putting more in sounds absurd. We'll drain it soon and see if it helps. And I hope it does... otherwise I'm getting a different car until I have the money. Thank you so much!

 

Do my one favor,
pull the dipstick for the tranny and smell the fluid.
Does it smell burnt?
I'm not sure its possible to burn up a clutch pack in a short time without burning the fluid too. something else I just thought of, look at the tranny lines and make sure they're not collapsed shut, this would restrict pressure from the front pump.

 

Yeah, we drained a little out and it smelled pretty bad. We're looking to get a different used one for less than it would cost to get a used or new transmission. Thank you so much for all your help.

 

I just found this tonight and thought of your problem.
It might be worth checking out.

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http://www.allpar.com/trucks/jeep/cherokee.html