so the way it seems its looking like im gonna spend some $$$$

 

Depends what's wrong with it for sure. I changed the transmission pump on mine (eBay reconditioned pump) and a case of fluid for ~$100. If you can't do the work, yeah. Every f'ing transmission shop just wants to rebuilt the entire transmission anytime something happens, which is about $1,800-$3,000 depending where you go.