1993 Aerostar AWD Trans prob - Up & Died

Hello, and thank-you for taking the time to read this...and hopefully somene has an answer.

I have searched the 2 pages of " Areostar transmission" problems, and have not found an identical problem, so I hope that someone may help.

1) Vehicle has 180k, and was serviced at 174K.. Drove from nw Montana to Mpls, MN back in 11/2006 with no real problems. Then, locally tossed on another 3k in mileage ( from November to end of April )...

2) I had then moved 2 blocks from work, so the vehicle sat from 4/30/2007 to 8/3/2007. I then drove it from Mpls, MN to Illinois ( 350 miles ) and pulled in to some freinds with an automotive shop and noticed I had a small leakage (puddle) on ground coming from what looked like between engine/trans area...and yet the fluid level was fine still. He tossed me a bottle of trans conditioner/sealer...in which I didn't use...until after my below problem.

3) I then only drove it that same day, and parked it since 8/3/07.. 3 days ago, I took it out, went into town....( maybe 3 miles) made it back and upon pulling in the drive...it just did nothing.

4) No "change in tone" ( or noise) of engine or trans...at all while trying to shift, but one thing I did notice is that my "air bag" lite flashes intermittently now.

I had read there are 4 sensors...etc...to this thing...and this sounds like more of an eltronical problem at this time...than it is mechanical, as it never had any slipping or such..


Of course, a transmission shop says $ 2,000.00...but I feel it is much more minor than this.

Again, thank-you for taking the time to read, and my fingers are crossed for the easy solution.

Did the shop test the pressures ? If they did then it sounds like trans trouble.