92 Camry transmission question

92 cmary 4 cyl 234k miles. Car still runs and looks new, don't want to part if I don't have to as mothers car and she really can't afford new one if this is possibly a minor issue. I am aware that anything w/ the tranny w/ regard to any kind of major overhaul could mean more than it's woth though.
The symptom is this. Car runs and shifts perfectly. All a sudden recently, the car ...when accellerating from a stop (traffic light, etc) will not want to go (feels like drag/strain on engine and car as if a brake caliper were sticking. after it gets going the car appears ok and this is intermittant but often enough that it is a problem every time car is driven. When the car does not seem to go forward the tach does not rise as just like a neatral or slipping effect....rather the engine strains and pings as it is dragging. Have checked and calipers /cylinders etc not dragging whatsoever.....nothing holding car back.
If you put the shifter down into "2" or "1" when it won't get itself going, it corrects the problem and the car takes off.
The fluid is red and full. Pan/screen and fluid has not been changed in 30k plus miles (when we bought it) but I don't smell burning and color looks good, so I don't suspect that is the problem....unless the screen/filter can get clogged and causes this type of effect or symptom (I know little about the effects of dirty screen).
Are there any other fluid levels other than the tranny dipstick that need to be checked that can cause the car to not want to take off from stops (transaxle etc)? Any characteristical problems w/ these trannies that have this type of symptom.
I know the tranny/ car owes us nothing w/ this many miles but is still like new otherwise and really can't afford new.
Any help very much appreciated as I know if my mom down in FL takes the car in this fix could possibly be astronomical and more thean the car is worth even though it is still in excellent condition otherwise.
Thank you for any help,
Rgrds,
Scott

I had the same problem with my '99 just recently. I had come to find out that it was a horribly clogged transmission filter and a bad tranny pan gasket. I replaced them both, refilled the tranny, and it ran just as good as new. You'll probably also want to change the differential fluid as well, this is recommended at the time of the tranny fluid change.

I was afraid to start dumping any money into this car and this kind of service not knowing if these tyes of sympoms can be a result of general tranny maintanace instead of more serious problems.
It sounds like your symptom was identical. The car is in the Sarasota FL area. I am In MA and not sure whrere the best chain to handle this would be. I know PEP Boys, and Walmart are nearby. If you think any other chains are better that are Nationwide....would appreciate any advice. I will try the service suggestions you make as you feel the service could very poosibly be the culprit.
Thanks,
Rgrds,
Scott

It almost seems like the torque converter is locking when it isn't supposed to be and/or your transmission not downshifting when it should. This happened on my dad's for taurus. The engine would ping, the rpm's would stay very low, and the car would have barely any acceleration.

How low are your RPM's when this problem is occuring? If they are below 2000 when you have the gas pushed down a fair amount, that would be a symptom.

Andy,
funny you should say that. The more I think about it....that is also what it feels like. I origionally said it felt almost like a brake caliper starting to sieze up, making the engine ping like a drag on takeoff (intermittantly) is on the car. But when I put car in neutral going 2 miles an hour it rolls and rolls. No drag on car.
The feeling also is like the car could be taking off in 2nd or feels like even 3rd gear. The tach doesn't rise up like the tranny is slipping at all.... just the complete opposite.
A tech in Worcester today (not toyota, but GM) thought it might be a solinoid or sensor (forgot which he said) telling the tranny to downshift as you're saying not functioning properly. Does a torque converter lock up because it fails or siezes...or does a solinoid/switch/sensor/etc tell it to down shift? Is this an expensive endeavor generally, like major rebuild or do you think it could be just a switch or part? (I realize you don't have a crystal ball..... but just wondering if you have any idea. The GM Tech I talked to today, didn't think it was the screen/filter in the pan w/ a fluid change would cause or resolve the symptom ....but a Camry tech on this site had same problem w/ his and he said the screen/filter/fluid change resolved it. I guess I will start there. Any other thoughts appreciated.
Rgrds,
Scott

Just like I said before, start with the cheaper stuff, like changing the fluid and filter, and then if you still have the problem, have the car ran on a computer to be checked for problems with tranmission sensors.