Overheat... tranny?

Fellas,

I have a 2000 Dodge Durango Sport 4WD with 140,000 miles on it. Today after sitting at the bank for about 5-10min with the A/C on, I noticed that the engine temp was about 3/4 of the way up in the normal zone (normally it's at about 1/2 no matter what I'm doing). Wasn't real hot outside. I started driving, thinking that the temp would return to about 1/2, but it didn't. I turned off the A/C, and the temp went back to 1/2. Then I started noticing that the tranny was acting funny. There was a slight "burning clutch" smell, and when I took my foot off the gas to coast, the rpm's stayed the same (they normally drop). Checked the tranny fluid level, and it is fine.
I let the car sit for a while off, then drove it, and everything seemed fine.

Any ideas?

When have you last changed the trans fluid and filter? I would do that for sure as it is much cheaper than a new tranny or a rebuild. Use only ATF +4 when you change it. Any use of Dextron of any sort and you will buy a tranny. Could also be that your A/C compressor is trying to lock up and caused the engine temp to increase but I would service the tranny if it has also acted up. I just replaced mine at a cost of about $800 labor included for a used one from a wreck.

Does your D have the electric fan as well, along with the clutch. The electric fan comes on when the AC is being used, or when the eng. temp hits 210F.......HTH.