my clutch gone? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ToRn · 03-19-2008, 06:17 AM

ok i baught a camry less than a month ago 92" version 5 spd manual 206k on the odometer; i noticed when driving something burning a little. Today as i was heading to work on the freeway when i switch gears my rpm will raise up insanely for a few seconds and go to where its supposed to during the gear changes. As i got off work 2 hrs ago i was on the freeway again my rpm was at 5 k in 4th gear and i was barely moving so i went to the nearest exit and got a few blocks up until i couldnt go anywhere any more besides backwards on the hill i was on; a cop stopped and let me call for a tow. While i was waiting for tow, the the the engine bay smelt bad the tranny fluid part in under the hood had some smoke coming out of it, there is no pressure on the clutch and the gear shifter is easly or easier going in as if the clutch is being push down but does not engage to go anywhere anymore, but if gased it would rev the rpm up and down normally; the car turns on and off fine, what's wrong with this, clutch or tranny? how much it it roughley to repair this problem? thanks in advance.

CamryWilly · 03-19-2008, 07:59 AM

oooohh yes! that good clutch smell in the morning!

Your burnt your clutch dude. That funky burnt smell and that smoke is the clutch disc that decided to die.

When was the last time it was changed?

When I got my car the clutch was 150k miles old. And it started slipping just like you...Excessive Slipping=burning. So I drove my car with no rough accelerations compressions and used my 5th rarely. This slippery business gave me 5000 miles out of the finished clutch compared to your 3 street corners. The mecanic wondered how I got the car to the garage on it's own power when he removed the clutch disk!!!

But still performance was horrible...

Good Luck with that!

Unco · 03-19-2008, 09:59 AM

revving the guts out of it while the clutch was slipping was a sure way to kill your clutch once and for all.

live and learn. you probably could have got your car to a garage easily if you knew how a manual transmission and clutch works. chances are you probably could have kept driving it for several days while you shopped around for a good quote.

mental note for the future: if the clutch starts slipping, BACK OFF THE GAS! until it grabs. if you're gentle with it, it would have eventually grabbed. just feather the gas next time to keep the car going without letting it rev to 5,000rpm!

but to answer your question. it's not your gearbox. it's just your clutch. and the smell is the clutch plate burning out as has already been mentioned.

Creeps228 · 03-19-2008, 11:23 AM

^ x2

never ride your clutch or beat on it, they mess up easily but they are also inexpensive parts that are replacable, you might have broke a tension spring in there ( i believe thats wat its called ) a buddy of mine had the same problem on his celica until he changed the clutch

ToRn · 03-19-2008, 01:14 PM

thanks peeps this was my first manual tranny car i have gotten and didn't know the symtoms of a bad clutch, even had 3 other peeps drive it after i baught to see it it gonna crap and they said it was fine still, but at least i will know the signs next time, thanks again peeps.

CamryWilly · 03-19-2008, 01:35 PM

In fact this is true...an old clutch dosen't really show...you must of tried to pass someone in your lane and ate the last really solid part of your clutch.

It was my first manual car too and I swear I was perfect when I got it...But I learned later from the old owner that the clutch was way old and he overloaded the car with spare machine parts...(Yeah it dosen't just affect the suspension remember that!).

I'm sure your Cam was on the original clutch... and 150k miles on a clutch is pretty good.

But still there is a lesson to be learned here...listen to your Cam! or any other car you will have!! Usually when you feel something is not right, pressing the gas is not the solution. Take the time to stop and look things up...'cause for example, a radiator is always cheaper to replace than a new engine....

DressUpYourPet · 03-19-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

never ride your clutch or beat on it, they mess up easily but they are also inexpensive parts that are replacable, you might have broke a tension spring in there ( i believe thats wat its called ) a buddy of mine had the same problem on his celica until he changed the clutch

I think you mean the pressure plate? It has big powerful flat springs but they do go bad sometimes, this happened to me once on my old Chevy Vega -

ToRn · 03-19-2008, 03:02 PM

So far called a place that uses oem clutch parts installed :
1.) intergrity auto toyota specialist: 873$ oem clutch parts installed; his comments was cheaper wasn't always a good idea price for parts are 600$ and the rest were labor.

2.) Was gresham transmision: gave me a quick quote of 495$ using lukes clutch.

3.) Was Trans-Medic quote of 429$ installed using lukes oem clutch, 20$ extra for rear something that might as well be replaced doing the clutch repair.

I'm not rich so is the first a bit too much? or might as well do that one for more "qaulity" reasons?

Unco · 03-20-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToRn

20$ extra for rear something that might as well be replaced doing the clutch repair.

rear main seal. also known as rear crankshaft seal. DEFINTELY get it done while the gearbox is out. for an extra $20 it is totally worth doing.

i'd go with the cheapest quote. actually, i'd do it myself since i know how to do it, but if i wasn't able to do it myself, i'd go with the cheapest quote.

Luckynumber5 · 03-20-2008, 08:32 AM

An OEM clutch and pressure plate shouldn't run you over $400, hell you can get a brand new flywheel for that.

You should look at spending about $300 on parts including a resurfaced flywheel, and about $4-500 on labor at least.

Do not skip out on anything, but don't get ripped off either.

marc780 · 03-20-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

intergrity auto toyota specialist: 873$ oem clutch parts installed; his comments was cheaper wasn't always a good idea price for parts are 600$ and the rest were labor.

Perhaps your mechanic didnt know what he's talking about? From napaonline.com, its the one for your car

ToRn · 03-20-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc780

Perhaps your mechanic didnt know what he's talking about? From napaonline.com, its the one for your car

haha i have no mechanic, that was just the first of 7 places i called 2 places had prices as high as that place but the other had a receptionist that was very kind and told me they charge $80/hr and told me to go with the cheapest one i could find. Just called trans medic a sec ago and they said they were almost done with it; gotta go pick up the car in 20 mins or so costing me around 450$ .

Unco · 03-20-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc780

Perhaps your mechanic didnt know what he's talking about? From napaonline.com, its the one for your car

you're comparing the price of a remanufactured set with an OEM set. 2 different things altogether. the OEM parts will always cost more than aftermarket, let alone remanufactured parts.

ToRn · 03-21-2008, 05:25 AM

picked up the car earlier and headed to work, just got off now. Let me tell you OMFG! total difference! when i baught the car couldn't feel the gears grabbing when letting go of clutch but now i need to basically need to re-learn first gear, giving it enough gas and reverse again. Killed the thing 8 times trying to make it move when in first gear. also noticed my thermostats going on/off and random and a little bit of smoke coming out the radiator but its full, where is the thermostats located anyone kknow?