engine cant start?

Hi everyone im new to this forum so if i screw up, my appology, i just buy an 1996 tacoma 4x4 3.4l automatic, it has very high mileages(300k +) the engine look good, no oil leak or anything like that, the previous onwer told me that he think the automatic torque converter is bad? i try to jump started but the engine wont fired up? it spin but the transmission tc seem to spin freely? my question if the tc is bad, the engine will still start right? i took the starter out to see if it work and all the teeth is still intact, i can spin the tc freely can this be so? i have not see if the engine have spark yet? so if any one have the same issues like mine please help? thks in advance.

 

I also had a 1996 and they are extremely reliable vehicles. Exactly what did you do to spin the torque converter freely? When you said "jump start", did you mean that you tried to push the vehicle to start it? It's not possible to push start an automatic transmission vehicle.

 

the battery was dead so i pull it off and try to start it with a battery jumper from another car to see why the engine cant turn over? when i took the starter off to see if the starter is bad? which is not, i spin the tc with my hand and it spin freely? i never own and automatic so idk how tc operate?

 

can any one help? how do you know if the flex plate is bad or the crankshaft is broke? i took the starter out and tested and it worked but when i try to start the car the engine turn some what but it does nothing? stick my finger inside where the starter hole is and can turn the flexplate freely so is that good or bad? please help thks.