Ok guys, I think my clutch may need to be replaced. According to the 2nd previous owner, it's the original clutch since she did not replace it when she had it. With 126k miles on it, that's pretty good.

Well, this is what it's doing. When I accelerate hard, like merging into traffic, the engine hestiates slightly between 2400 and 2600 RPM yet it's smooth thru the rest of the power band. Normal acceleration is fine.

Second, when I shift, during the same hard acceleration, between 3 to 4 and 4 to 5, the engine revs an extra 100-200 rpm before dropping. And no, I don't power shift or anything. I never noticed this in any of my cars or trucks except once when the clutch in the taco died.

The only mods done to the engine or exhaust is an amsoil filter and the ISR mod (intake silencer remover). The clutch fluid is fine. The oil is only 1500 miles old. The engine probably needs a basic tune up like spark plugs, injector cleaning, intake cleaning, etc but I can't imagine this would effect it.

Any ideas?

 

How does the clutch travel feel? Does it get noticibly firmer as you push it down to the floor?

 

the travel feels fine but i'll check on it tonight on the way home from work. my clutch engages/disengages near the bottom of the pedal travel.

 

Another trick is to start off in 2nd and abruptly let the clutch out. If you do not get the traditional "bouncing" your clutch is gone.

But, the best test IMO, is to take it near redline and third, then shift quickly into 4th (still flooring it). The revs will rise, then drop back down, indicating a worn clutch.

FYI, my clutch was about $750 installed at the dealer. Prices varied nearly $300 between dealers. Independent shops were about the same price as dealers. In AZ anyway. FYI.

 

when the clutch in my 88 runner
was going out, the engine would
rev up like it hadnt engaged the
gear most notable in first from a
standstill. the truck would start
revving more than it would move,
eventually it would pickup speed
though. another thing I noticed with my
88 was that I would turn on the
vehicle with the clutch start cancel
in first gear, instead of jumping forward
and turning off, it would start crawling
forward until I turned off the ignition
switch.

this is just my previous experience but
mebbe this helps

 

sounds like it's slipping. I'd say, since a girl was driving it before (just kidding) that it's wornout and needs replacin'. don't forget to have the fly wheel resurfaced while you have it disassembled.

 

Hmmm, I bought mine off a girl too, and the clutch was bad at 66K miles.