What the heck is wrong with my XJ's transmission?

Coming home today, everything was great, until I stopped about 200 from my place (figures). I was sitting at a light and I was about to turn right and I pushed on the gas and it sounded louder but nothing happened. So I put it back in neutral, then put it back in drive (I have an 97 4dr auto) and tried to press the gas. Still, it didn't move forward, just reved. Then I put it down into 1/2 gear and it went fine.

What gives? There wasn't any sounds or anything before it happened, it just happened.

Thanks,

Chris

How's the fluid level? Always check for the obvious first.

Fluid level of what? Why would the 1/2 gear setting work and not the drive setting? That would have something to do with fluid? Let me know and I will check it out.

Thanks,

Chris

He's talking about the transmission fluid. If there is not enough fluid, the tourque converter will not load up.

So just so I understand this, the "1/2" gear setting would work but the rest wouldn't with low fluid? Could someone explain this to me so I can learn?

thanks,

Chris

bump

You are running in limp home mode...meaning that the transsmission computer is either not getting power or is not talking to the transmission.
You have a manual now.
1/2 = 1st gear
3 = 3rd
4 = 4th
you no longer have a lockup converter.
sustained use in this condition will lead to higher than normal operating temperatures. this will bake the fliud eventually.

check in this order
Fliud level.
Transmission computer fuse. (fuse box.)
Transmission computer fusible link (under passenger side dash (at least on my 88 and 94 models))
Do not let anyone sell you a new transmission or rebuild this one I have 206k and 180k on my 2 XJs with the original trannsmissions changed the fluid every 50k. I rag the snot out of them both.

would overfilling cause this same problem?