A lady that is staying with us owns a 1997 Dodge Caravan, She said she was heading home from the city thats 10 mins away when she felt the van jerk, Almost like she hit something, She never seen anything in the rear mirror so she didn't think anything of it. She then said about a min later the van kept trying to pull back when she was going under 70KM, If she stayed above that it seemed fine. She made it home, With a line of transmission fluid down the road about a foot from our driveway. Told me that her van was having issues and wanted me to look at it. Looked under it and noticed the trail of fluid. Tried to start it and all the starter did was spin. First thing that came to mind was that it maybe broke the flywheel and took out the torque converter. I moved the van back and forth by hand in neutral and tried to start it again, She started. I moved it with great difficulty due to the fact it was pissing fluid out the bottom. Pulled the driver wheel, Jacked it up. Got under it, noticed it was leaking from the bell housing area. Put it back together figuring that I would maybe work on it later when it got nicer in the spring. Went to start it, Same thing, Starter just spun, Had to push it back into its spot with our other 1997 Caravan with a 3 speed. Left it there until today i was board and figured i would pull the starter to make sure that the flywheel was indeed broken. Was surprised to see that the teeth were intact and i could not move it at all by hand, Looked at the starter and noticed that a chunk of cast alum was jamming the starter from fully extending. Took that out felt around inside the hole and found another chunk. Put it all back together to see if it would start, And she fired. Once it started i herd it throw another chunk of alum. and chew it up somewhere inside the bell housing. Here are pictures of the parts. Its still pissing fluid. I am only 21 and my parents want to send it to a trans shop to get it fixed. I feel I have enough knowledge and am willing to learn to fix it. Anyone know what this part is? I am thinking its part of the pump?

 

I should also note that it does not seem to always **** out fluid. As can be seen by these pictures.

 

Heres the part I pulled out of the bellhousing through the starter hole

 

and the part that was jammed in the starter

 

Just noticed I did not list what it is, 3.0L V6, 4 Speed 41TH

 

Come on guys, I really want to fix this or at least find out what happened.... Is it possible to remove the torque dust shield without having to support the engine?