how does a clogged fuel filter behave on a stick camry?

[blueapple]

I have a manual 96 camry 100k and stock fuel filter.
I have a some what un smooth idle, and this really weird problem:

I have this vibrating clutch, especailly when I press the pedal very slightly

when I drive on highway, say 80mph, and I press my clutch slightly, the vibration is there; then I let go my gas pedal, the vibration is MUCH weaker. ( this happens without too much change in rpm )


I also have a somewhat "sticky" pedal feel, it seems to be vibrating only when my pedal is traveling, worse on the upstroke than down stroke, HOWEVER, if I drive the car hard, say 3K RPM in fifth gear for like.. 10 minutes, and when I get off of the highway, everything seems to be much smoother, including the clutch pedal, it's as if nothing is wrong with it.

Also, when clutch pedal start acting up, accelerating seems somewhat rough too. It's as if the engine misfires a little bit. No code or check engine light.

I just changed out the cap/rotor/wire, didn't do anything.

first I was thinking the clutch might be the problem, since this problem happened after I got my new clutch, but all the other facts lead me to think maybe it's because of the engine itself. ( Since I only had the car for about 1 week before the clutch went )

I still get good power though.

[V6LE_CAMRY]

Maybe it's the throwout bearing.

[blueapple]

ya but, why would driving on highway soften the problem though?

and there's no obvious noise, besides, when shifting at higher RPM, the pedal assembly itself seems make this "springy" noise, which I don't know why. But it's obviously from the inside.Cuz I can't hear it when I have the window and hood open ( Sitting still, rev the engine and press the pedal; I can hear it when I close the window )

I think it's most likely engine related. The guy who did the clutch job said my engine might be misfiring. Could a bad EGR valve do this?

[Gary_602Z]

Geez o Petes just replace the fuel filter! With a 100k on it it needs it. It may not take care of the problem but you will feel better!

Gary

[blueapple]

lol
I doubt my credit card would.
And I don't have a garage at the moment, and I don't trust mechanics anymore.
but, could anyone think of anything at all? grounding problems maybe? it comes and go whenever it wants to... like new when good, but when bad, I know it's bad.
And also, whenever I disconnect my battery for a while ( I think ECU is then re freshed ) My car idles very low ( 500 or lower, won't die though ), untill the ECU starts to "learn" maybe, then it idles normal again.

also my shifter bounces in first gear under heavy acceleration. I don't mind it moves, but bounce means engine cuts off once in a while right? can't really feel it on the car, just the shifter. And ya, when the car runs smooth, the shifter feels better too.
have no freaking idea why is she behaving like that....

[5spd V6 ClrTail]

The other person said throw out bearing, consider that

[blueapple]

It should be brand new from toyota replaced less than 3K ago. But then again, the mechanic could have dropped it.
It's some times very smooth, along with the engine itself, so I doubt it's the TO

[drunken_panda]

The fuel filter should never need to be replaced. Toyota never specs them to be replaced.

[Novice_cardude]

When you had your clutch changed did you change anything else? Sounds like something my car does. It is also a '96 5spd. From time to time the pedal seems to vibrate, but only when it moves. When i'm stopped, even with the engine off, i hear that squeak you're talking about when I push the clutch. I know my slave cylinder needs to be lubed, but i'm waiting 'til the clutch goes out to replace it.

The squeak is a dirty slave cylinder piston (i think), and it would cause a rough pedal feel, as there is no power booster for the clutch hydraulics and you can feel anything in the line.

Of course, my theory goes right out the window if you had your slave or master or both cylinders replaced...

[blueapple]

Glad I see someone with similar problem!
I'm sorry, I don't mean I"m glad, but at least I know I'm not the only one.

I changed out the pressure place with OEM, rebuilt in mexico, biggest mistake ever, I should have gotten a Exedy or Centerforce.
Release bearing (TO) OEM, and new OEM clutch disk, which is made in japan, beautiful piece, can't find a single thing NOT perfect about it..

Well, My pedal used to squeak from the OUTSIDE, so I used Lithium grease on the fork joint, and it's gone now ( it's only been 1 week or so, can't tell if it's gonna come back.)
But the thing is, my pedal only vibrates when the car's running in higher RPM, if the car's turned off, I don't feel anything. That is why I'm still thinking whether I should rebuild the cylinders, ( I think the master would be more likely, there's this very small "springy" noise when I press the pedal at higher RPM, from inside the car, it's been there before I changed out my clutch, but back then it didn't vibrate)

So ya, confused.

I still think it's engine related, a slight misfire or something. Maybe I will rebuild the slave cylinder, since it's cheap ( unless I find a messed up bore, then I have to change the whole thing ).

[blueapple]

Update:
I just rebuilt the slave cylinder, basically replaced the piston and spring. Well, the problem isn't any better, I don't know if it's because of the fact that I didn't do anything to the bore ( which felt pretty smooth. although it's been a few days, I don't hear any squeak anymore.

What I'm guessing is that the TO bearing is rubbing against the bearing retainer inside the bell housing, and that's what's felt by the pedal.

I asked a friend to press the pedal in and out while keeping the RPM around 2k,which is where the vibration ( upon movement ) usually kick in, and I put my finger on the fork, and I couldn't feel anything vibration ( relative to the transmission casing ), So I'm very confused...

and like you said, it's once in a while, well, in my case it's most of the time, and once in a while not so.

Do you have any luck with yours?