Newbie 88 Camry clutch disappeared!

[tom42nm]

I've searched some but have not found this problem.
88 Camry sta wagon, 190000 original 4 cyl, manual.
Driving down the road (about 5 miles) about 55.
Suddenly, engine revs. Coasted off to side. Engine runs, clutch has gone away. Can shift without depressing clutch with engine running.
Pushed car further off road and saw a puddle of some kind of oil.
Engine has oil; Master clutch cylinder has fluid.
No grinding or other type of mechanical noise.
I'm possibly buying this car as I know the original owner (155000) and the current owner.
Clutch worked fine up to the problem day.
Any advice is appreciated as to diagnosing this problem.
Going out to jack it up now.
Thanks.

[tom42nm]

More information=
Started car, let out clutch in first and speedometer went to 20mph. Alittle less in second.
Since I am brand new to these cars, any diagnostics are greatly appreciated.

[Mike Gerber]

Just a thought here. Are you actually removing the cover to the clutch master resevoir and looking inside, or are you just looking at it from the side? The reason I ask is I have seen people just check the side of the translucent resevoir and it appears to be full. They are just looking at the stain left in the resevoir from old, dirty fluid. It may actually be empty. Make sure you remove the cap and check.

Mike

[tom42nm]

Yes, removed cap and verified fluid in reservoir.

[white90dx]

Wait, the speedo went to 20mph while the car was stopped?

That means broken CV/axle or differential.

-Charlie

[tom42nm]

That is what Iam thinking. What about the puddle of lubricant on the ground?
So Iam looking at dropping the tranny, replacing the clutch (never been replaced and the flywheel is missing a few teeth) and differential?
Tom

[white90dx]

You'll have to look under the car to see what happened. There should be something obvious if there is fluid leaking. Maybe an axle popped out of the trans. It would be helpful to know exactly what fluid leaked.

Let's hope it isn't the differential, because replacing that requires a complete teardown of the transmission (a used trans is a better option at that point).

-charlie

[tom42nm]

Well the fluid sank into the sand by road quickly. Looked more like transmisssion fluid than engine oil.
Where is the best place to put the jackstands on this 88 sta wagon?
Tom

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by tom42nm

Well the fluid sank into the sand by road quickly. Looked more like transmisssion fluid than engine oil.
Where is the best place to put the jackstands on this 88 sta wagon?
Tom

The jack points on the pinch rails or the suspension mounts located at the base of the front control arms. You can jack it up by the front to rear crossmember under the engine or from the pinch rails.

-Charlie

[tom42nm]

So finally got the 88 Camry on jackstands today.
Wheels both turn when manually turning.
Carrier bearing on passenger side has no bolts and is floating freely.
I have worked on many vehicles, but not these transverse engines.
The more I read and look at the setup, the more I like them.
So:
1. axle bearing on passenger side has no bolts.
2. leak of fluid is at differential but where I do not know yet. Looks like the axle to differential.
3. when put in gear with wheels on ground speedo registers mph (20 in first) but car does not move.
4. on jackstands the driver side wheel turns in gear,
5. the passenger side wheel only turns in gear if hand rotated to a certain position and then the drivetrain engaged,.

So the problem is the rh side drive axle.
Is there a differential seal where the axle enters the differntial?
Only have a Haynes book and experience to go on.

Is there a passenger side axle seal at the differential?
Thanks. Tom

[tom42nm]

So the passenger side shaft has pulled out 3/4 to 1 inch from the differential based on color of the large part of the shaft.
Does anyone know the size of the bolts that hold the carrier bearing?
Possible to just replace seal and put the axle back in?
Thanks
Tom

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by tom42nm

So the passenger side shaft has pulled out 3/4 to 1 inch from the differential based on color of the large part of the shaft.
Does anyone know the size of the bolts that hold the carrier bearing?
Possible to just replace seal and put the axle back in?
Thanks
Tom

Grab them from the junkyard or order them from the dealer...

Make sure you refill the differential after replacing the axle. Also consider replacing the axle seal on that side as it is probably damaged.

Should be a ~$10 fix...

-Charlie

[tom42nm]

Thank you Charlie.
Wish we had a junkyard closer than 220 miles.
Is the axle seal relatively straight forward to replace?
Also- the outboard driver side cv boot is torn.
Do the split boots work?
Tom

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by tom42nm

Thank you Charlie.
Wish we had a junkyard closer than 220 miles.
Is the axle seal relatively straight forward to replace?
Also- the outboard driver side cv boot is torn.
Do the split boots work?
Tom

Once the axle is out of the way, the seal just pops out (and back in, just give it a small amount of gear oil as lube).

Replace the axle with a complete rebuilt unit from an auto parts store. It should be well under $100, and you will get a warranty...

A Toyota dealer should be able to get you the right bolts. They will be like $4 each, but there are only 2 or 3 of them...

-Charlie

[tom42nm]

Pushed the whole rh axle assembly into the differential, bolted on carrier bearing and have drive.
Major _clunk_ on that side at wheel. Deal with that later, just trying to verify diff is ok.
The main problem now is where to put in fluid.
5 speed manual, has one large drain plug on the bottom of the differential.
88 camry wagon, 4cyl.
Where is the fill plug?
Thanks
Tom