Drop the pan and look for chunks of metal.

I lost a trani once. It would only make that similar noise in first gear. Every thing was fine in 2nd and 3rd gear. Turned out to be a first gear tooth that broke off.

WELL AS PER A SECOND OPINION, THE TRANNY WAS PULLED OFF AND SEEMS THAT THE GEARS WERE DAMAGED BY A PIECE OF ONE GEAR THAT BROKE OFF. DAMAGED ALL 4 GEARS... REBUILD IS NECESSARY FOR THE GEARS AND YES IT IS GOING TO HURT MY WALLET.. i WILL NOT GIIVE UP ON MY PONTIAC THOUGH. i AM HAVING MY TRANNY REBUILT. gET SOME BODY WORK DONE AND LOOK, A NEW 1993 BONNEVILLE. HOPE TO GET A COUPLE MORE YEARS OUT OF IT.
THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK

hey i had to get my tranny rebuilt about three weeks ago.. let me tell yea its not a good noise to hear where i started it up but i stil drove it for another 5 days untill i could get it in to get fixed. coasted me $688 some where around that price.. now she runs perfect!
that happend on a 97' bonneville se

It'* kind of funny that you guys all had heard sounds and such when you're transmissions went out. When mine went out it just stopped shifting out of first gear, but first and reverse still worked fine and didn't slip a bit. Of course when i took it apart there were several thrust washers in pieces, the 4th gear clutch was in 3 pieces, and both the second and third clutches were burnt. Nothin a good ol' rebuild can't fix

It'* kind of funny that you guys all had heard sounds and such when you're transmissions went out. When mine went out it just stopped shifting out of first gear, but first and reverse still worked fine and didn't slip a bit. Of course when i took it apart there were several thrust washers in pieces, the 4th gear clutch was in 3 pieces, and both the second and third clutches were burnt. Nothin a good ol' rebuild can't fix