In the "adaptive" automatic transaxles that Chrysler used, they kind of got a "bad rap" for working and then not working. In that case, what happened was the car drove "fine" until it was stopped and then it would not move again. The trans adapts for wear and driving patterns. The correct trans fluid is highly important too!
Basically, the trans computer regulates the apply pressure on the clutch packs (and monitors for slippage at something like 400 times/second). As the friction material on the clutch plates wears, the trans will compensate for that by using higher apply pressures and will even try to make it work "metal to metal", but when it can't it just will not move the car. Only alternative is a full rebuild.
In one respect, the dealers' operatives advice of "If it works, don't mess with it" could be good advice but it could also be that they probably might have had to rebuild transmissions that they serviced as it was getting ready to fail and they were lucky enough to have it happen in their shop--and pay for it too.
Check out the FAQs at www.allpar.com. Lots of good information in that website, especially on the newer Chrysler products of the K-car era.
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