My gf has a '97 Dodge Avenger. We both live in Atl, GA and the weather here is approximately 30 degrees. Whenever my girlfriend starts the car and applies gas, the car does not move. I figured, may be the car needs to get warmed up. My gf would wait until the car would get completely warm, and try to accelerate, this helped with the problem, but only for a little while.

Sometimes when she is at a light and it turns green, she'll try to accelerate and the car won't move. After a few attempts, some large grinding noise would come up. Today, after work she started her car, and waited for it to warm up. As she was driving, the red battery light came up, and there was some large "clunk clunk" noise or so.

Any ideas what it might be?

 

OW!! I think you just lost your trans. When you say "it wouldn't move" Did it act like it was in neutral? Check your trans fluid if its black or a silvery color. Also check you oil.

 

The planetary gears may have broke inside the transmission. Maybe time for a reman transmission.