Please help. I live waay out in the boonies and we don't really have any decent mechanics around here. We have been to 2 shops and still no help. At first my 1990 4runner sr5 4x4 started shifting hard and gradually got worse. It got to the point that reverse would grind 3 or 4 times before I could get it in. It got to the point that it was taking all my force, making my hand sore, just to get it in gear. There was always a tiny whinning noise from somewhere under the hood but would stop if pressed the gas less. Now reverse is completely gone, goes in to 4th and makes a grind type sound when turning and I noticed in 3rd it made a clunk type sound letting off the gas going down hill. If anyone can help diagnose this it would be of great appreciation, as the economy has hit my family hard, we live on a 4 mile trail and our only backup is a 99 nissan sentra, with a electrical ground short and cannot even make it out when it rains. Thanks alot.

 

At first I thought it might be a cracked clutch pedal bracket but I pulled it out and it is in good condition. OOh yeah, additional information, the hard shifting started after leaving the house. A pop came from the clutch when I was depressing. Thanks again.

 

I'm going to guess you checked you clutch fluid and gear oil, no?

And since it's been a week since you posted, I'm going to guess you fixed it, right?

 

Have a friend watch the clutch lever under the truck while you press the clutch pedal.
That will tell you if it's any type of pedal/linkage issue

If that looks good, safely jack up the truck so that atleast one of your drive wheels is off the ground.
Put it in 1st gear (truck not running).
Try to turn the tire.
With no clutch it should not turn.
When you press the clutch to the floor you should be able to turn it (but it will require some effort).

If you can not turn the drive wheels at all with the clutch pedal pressed to the floor, then the clutch maybe broken, jammed, or somehow hanging up.

If that all checks out and looks good.
Maybe your syncronizers are so dead that you just can't get it into some gears?

Hope that helps

 

The shift lever rides in a polyurethane bushing....would that be the issue? About $14 at the dealers. Common issue with a ton of manuals. Usually you will notice problems getting into 2nnd...or 4th...or reverse.

 

I just had the same problem... it was the slave cylinder gone bad...