So, yesterday after 40 minutes of stop and go traffic up hill, my clutch started slipping. This has happened only once before in stop and go traffic, and once I got out of it, and into third and fourth gear, I was fine.

Yesterday however, stuck in traffic, up a steep incline, my car could not grab in first. RPM's would flare up, but nothing would catch. Had to back it down a hill and park on the side of the street. I was on my way to the woods, so I left and went hiking and came back in two hours. I hopped in the car, fired it up, and went up the hill fine.

In any event, my question is this:

I am living in Mexico City for the next 4 months, and I need to get this fixed now. Toyotas have only been here for the last 10 years or so, and my car and the requisite parts don't really exist down here. I have two proposed options:

1. My neighbor knows a mechanic who will remanufacture the existing clutch for a very reasonable price. My neighbor has had work done on his 1995 Honda from the States, and he claims to have no problems with clutch, and to be happy with the work.

or

2. Take it to the Toyota dealership, pay more (but I anticipate not as much as a dealership in the States, because the cost of labor is way less here), and hopefully get OEM parts shipped and installed.

Thoughts, Ideas, Stories of your clutch problems are welcome.

 

So you dont want to do the labor? I would think it wouldn't be hard to get a clutch shipped down to you. My friend had his clutch "remanufactured" and it last maybe 1k miles.

 

Buy a new clutch kit online and get it shipped to you then if you can't install find someone who can.

 

I would be wary of the backyard mexican "reman" fix.

go to Toyota, buy the parts, and fix it yourself. Do it right the first time.

 

^^Yep!

 

I live in an apartment in the middle of the city, and park my car on the street.. I do not really have the space nor the tools to get the job done. I am definitely going to have someone else do the work. I will look into ordering the parts online and having them shipped.

 

waiting to hear back from a quote from the dealership. Otherwise I have located some distributors online. What is your opinion about OEM verse ceramic clutch discs?

 

if you do alot of stop and go on hills, the ceramic clutch might not be a bad idea.

 

For the next four months, living in this never ending line of traffic that is Mexico City, I will definitely be in the stop and go. What are you losing by going with ceramic?

 

Marlin crawler clutch ftw! It'l clamp like a mofo and won't hurt your leg like a ceramic.

 

Wound up calling the dealership here in Mexico City, they are going to order the factory OE replacement for complete clutch kit + flywheel.

Get This:

Parts = $3600 pesos ($US 288)
+
Labor = $3000 pesos ($US 240)

TOTAL = $6,600 pesos ($US 528)

Something a little funny about that equation to all of you? Parts more than labor---whaaaat?

Comes with Toyota guarantee on all parts and labor. Not my cheapest option by any means, given all the aftermarket parts and street corner mechanics--but for the price and the security, I am going to take it.

 

Marlin Crawler FTW!! i just replaced my clutch 2000 miles ago and its still grips like a mofo and cheap too