Hey all,

I'm new to the Toyota scene and have recently bought a '91 4Runner. Super clean rig, 22RE, 5 speed manual, 107K miles, maintained flawlessly by the original owner.

So I went offroad a bit the past weekend and I was picking up a hot smell, sort of similar to a hot brake smell, the coolant temp was right in the middle of the gauge where it should be. I'm thinking it was clutch but I've never detected this driving around town. I'm wondering if the extra stress of offroading is just exposing that the clutch is near the end of it's life.

When I drive the clutch doesn't feel like it's slipping at all. There is a slight bit of clutch chatter sometimes when I engage but that's it as far as bad behavior. Am I on the right track as far as thinking the smell is the clutch? What's an average cost to have a clutch replaced at a shop?

Thanks,
-Roger

 

A slipping clutch will give off a stinky smell which is similar to brakes and also smells like cat pee.

 

dude, nothing smells that bad!

But yes, it is a very distinct smell, one that you will not forget. I remember back in my Civic SI days when a bunch of us went out to do burnouts. Well I revved her up and released the clutch. I heard a quick squeal and then I sat there with the engine revving like mad, feathering in and out of the throttle like I was putting down mad power to the wheels. I kept on it. White smoke starting pouring out. Yeah baby! Then, rather suddenly, a stench like no other filled the cabin of the car. I realized I had just burned by stock clutch off.