doublezer6
New member
Have a '91 4-Runner and last week heard something pop when I pushed in the clutch. Soon after, started having difficulty getting into first gear, and a little issue with shifting into higher gears once rolling. Decided to take it by the shop so they could take a look since I didn't have time to mess with it. Had some major difficulty the last few stop signs on the way to the shop putting it into first gear and was lucky there wasn't another intersection otherwise I dont think I would have been able to make it all the way.
Got it back yesterday, shop said that my slave cylinder needed replacing (I just replaced myself almost 2 years ago to the day), and that the clutch pedal bracket broke (previous owner apparently had some welding repair on it) so they had to put a new on a new brace.
Drove out of the shop being told everything was shifting smoothly again, about a mile from the shop the same symptoms started happening again:
1) Difficult to shift into first gear, have to put some muscle behind it until it finally "pops" into gear. Sometimes have to release clutch and then repress all the way a few times in order to get it into gear.
2) Difficulty shifting into second gear, similar to first, but not quite as difficult.
3) Very difficult to get into reverse gear. Sometimes takes a few attempts, and every time there is an obvious loud brief grinding sound until it gets into gear.
4) Every time I press in the clutch, there is a "pop" sound, kind of like the popping of knuckles or a knee.
Was told a while back by the same shop that my "clutch was going out and would need to be replaced soon." This time, shop also told me that the entire clutch pedal mechanics up under the dash were "mangled" and that it would keep working for now but will eventually need to be worn out and replaced (maybe this is part of the reason that I am hearing a popping sound when pressing in the clutch...?).
Have also been told by a neighbor that he thinks it might be a transfer case issue(?).
Other than the clutch issues, the rest of the engine purrs wonderfully. Any thoughts what the main culprit may be to these shifting issues?
Got it back yesterday, shop said that my slave cylinder needed replacing (I just replaced myself almost 2 years ago to the day), and that the clutch pedal bracket broke (previous owner apparently had some welding repair on it) so they had to put a new on a new brace.
Drove out of the shop being told everything was shifting smoothly again, about a mile from the shop the same symptoms started happening again:
1) Difficult to shift into first gear, have to put some muscle behind it until it finally "pops" into gear. Sometimes have to release clutch and then repress all the way a few times in order to get it into gear.
2) Difficulty shifting into second gear, similar to first, but not quite as difficult.
3) Very difficult to get into reverse gear. Sometimes takes a few attempts, and every time there is an obvious loud brief grinding sound until it gets into gear.
4) Every time I press in the clutch, there is a "pop" sound, kind of like the popping of knuckles or a knee.
Was told a while back by the same shop that my "clutch was going out and would need to be replaced soon." This time, shop also told me that the entire clutch pedal mechanics up under the dash were "mangled" and that it would keep working for now but will eventually need to be worn out and replaced (maybe this is part of the reason that I am hearing a popping sound when pressing in the clutch...?).
Have also been told by a neighbor that he thinks it might be a transfer case issue(?).
Other than the clutch issues, the rest of the engine purrs wonderfully. Any thoughts what the main culprit may be to these shifting issues?
