Ok, 94 se w/ 74,000 miles (i think)

I have to register for this site with my first post with a problem but here goes....

Im driving my car in overdrive on the parkway (as usual) and i feel a stutter and the whole car shakes for a sec, while this happens the rpms drop from 2 to 1 for a sec. It kinda feels liek the engine missed a beat. AFter this happens 2 or three times the check engine light comes on.

-Also related or unrelated, there is an oil leak somewhere by the engine which is causeing smoke and a smell-

The mechanic says that my overdrive gear is shot, and i need a rebuild on my tranny -> $2,000. Im am not willing to pay that much to save the car, but i am willing to try my best (even if it means putting in another tranny myself). What i am wondering is...can i just use the transmission just in drive and not overdrive? I dont know how many times this topic has been discussed but ive donre some searching and i read that it may be some kind of wire/spark plug problem.

Any suggestions?
thanks in advance
Stan :?:

if you drive it ont he highway in drive. at 70mph you'll be up around 3000 rpms, but drive will bring u all the way to your govened speed. so u won't lose any passing power, just porabably burn more gas.

When the check engine light comes on, a code is stored. Do you know which code was stored?

When was the last time you had your spark plug wires changed? My wires started giving me problems, and it was very similar symptoms. Normally happens between 80-100kms, right? Get your spark plug wires checked first before you go ahead with the tranny overhaul

Also, It might not even be your overdrive gear if it is the tranny at all. It'* rare for this gear to go without other signs first i.e. the tranny slipping
It COULD be the lock up (or is it down, i don't remember) converter on the tranny....a friend of mine had this happen in a Grand Am...and instead of redoing the whole tranny, he said he just pulled it out ...don't know about that for sure or if it ccan even be done on the Bonne....But like i said check those wires...and let us know.

I agree with Tamara, had similar problem with mine bucking & banging around 50 mph.
Tranny guy drove the car and told me to go home and change the plug wires. I didn't believe it would cure the problem but it did. He could have taken me to the cleaners!
My problem was with the torque convertor lock up. It did it in drive or overdrive.