Follow up on the Pontiac Montana Transmission Question :)?

[Cortney R]

I posted a question earlier about my pontiac montana van where the transmission is slipping and refusing to go into D or 3rd after I accidentally knocked the lever a couple of days ago while driving. My husband just pulled the transmission fluid pan and found a piece of metal that had obviously broken off. It was kind of half moon shaped. Does anyone know what this piece is from? Thanks

 

[melsg5]

I believe you are saying you placed the shifter into Park while the car was moving. It probably is part of the parking pawl which prevents the car from rolling when in Park. It also appears that metal fragments from the break may have damaged other parts within the transmission.