This evening while running some errands, my truck started making a funny noise. It sounds like the throwout bearing in the clutch is going out. When I push the clutch in, I hearing a whining noise and the only way to stop it is to let the clutch back out. This can happen whether I'm in neutral or in gear. I don't think it's a throwout bearing though, as the clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and flywheel were all replaced about 30k ago.

I'm wondering if my rear main seal could be leaking and getting on the the clutch disc. The 4Runner has 183k and I did notice a few weeks ago that the truck was 3/4 of a quart low on oil. I don't see any oil stains on the garage floor as I have the Bud Built front skid and the belly skid.

Any thoughts?

 

How's the clutch fluid? Maybe master cyl.?

 

Forgive my ignorance, but where do I check that?

 

looking at your engine from the front, there are 2 reservoirs in the upper right hand corner (near firewall). The reservoir on the right is clutch fluid, the one on the left is brake fluid (both use Dot 3 fluid).

 

yeah i think at one point my truck was low and it started to make a little noise, but then again it did also have almost 200,000 on it but it could still be it

 

I found it on my own last night. Filled and bled the clutch but didn't fix the noise. I think I'm going to have to drop the trans to take a look at the clutch.

 

It could be the master cylinder, I would take it somewhere to get it at least looked at before you drop the trans.