Time to replace clutch 90 Camry?

[janambient]

1990 Camry 4 Cyl with original clutch and 175,000 miles - I've been having the following symptoms:

Clutch hops a few times when starting from stop, i.e. letting it out in first gear. This has been going on for over a year with no other symptoms.

Recently I was stuck in stop and go traffic going up a somewhat steep hill. It took ten minutes to go less than a mile. When I got to the top of hill and end of the construction zone, I smelled burned clutch and was seriously down on power as I went back into higher gears - it felt like the clutch was slipping. This cleared up after a couple of minutes of keeping clutch pedal mostly down while coasting at high speed to cool it off.

Now, however, occasionally when I am shifting gears, the clutch seems to slip for a couple of seconds during shift. I can feel a very slight chatter sensation in the drive train for a couple of seconds while engaging the clutch.

Is this the beginning of a worn out clutch? Or nearing the end?

Can the clutch be inspected by a mechanic? Or do you have to remove it (replace it) to be sure?

Thanks.

[white90dx]

It probably is the clutch. Does your car have a tach? If so, what are the revs doing while the clutch is "catching"?

On the highway in 4th or 5th if you floor it, do the rpms go up while the car doesn't accelerate? If so, it is definitely the clutch.

175k on the original clutch is pretty good... It probably is time to replace it.

-Charlie

[Gary_602Z]

It sure has all of the symptoms of a burnt clutch.

Gary