96 camry tranny problem or torque converter?

hello guys im kinda new to the forum. i just bought a 96 toyota camry off someone really cheap, saying it needed a torque converter. i just wanted to tell you guys what it does and see if a torque converter is the problem. first off, he says its the third tranny that has been put in the car, the previous 2 goin out because he said he never replaced the torque converter. the third is a brand new one and is still acting up. anywho, i turn it on, cranks right up. i can put it into gear and drive it, runs good. even reverse works. but after about 5 min of it warming up, it wont go. it stays on though, just when i press the gas it wont move, just kinda revs up. he says when the car warms up, the fins on the torque converter get hot and lay down, which wont allow it to move. any suggestions? 96 4 cylinder with 190k miles.

First, check the fluid for the correct amount, color, and odor. It it's brown and pungent, drain/flush it.

Second, if 3 trannies have been replacesd and the problem's still there, the prob isn't the tranny.

Converter fins don't "lay down". Simplistically, they are two sets of solid turbine blades that force fluid against each other to transfer power from the engine to the transmission. You can Google the subject to learn more on how they work...quite marvelous machines.

I would check the differential and CV joints for wear and/or binding. Problems there can place alot of extra stress on the transmission. Jack up one side of the front and try to rotate the tire. It should spin fairly free. Then do the other side. Then jack up the whole front and spin some more. The opposite tire should spin the opposite direction...again fairly freely, though with more effort since you're trying to move alot more mass. Then turn the wheel to one lock and spin them. CLicking noises or difficulty rotating means shot CV joints.

i checked the fluid today and seems fine. when i drove the car for a little bit sunday and i turned the wheel i didnt hear any nasty sounds coming from the cv axles. and i know what it sounds like cuz my neighbor's makes an ugly sound and i know it when i hear it lol but could the problem still be a torque convertor?

Take a look at the radiator fluid when its cold. Remove the radiator cap and look for an oily, rainbow looking film. Alternatively, drain some of it into a pan and view it under bright light. Check its color also compared to fresh coolant. If it is discolored (not as easy to spot depending on the color of coolant used...but should be bright green for regular coolant or pale yellow for "global" type coolant) and/or has an oily sheen, then you're radiator and transmission fluid are mixing together in the radiator. Disconnecting the tranny hoses and performing a radiator pressure test will confirm this by viewing tranny and/or coolant fluid coming out of the rad when under pressure.