I was driving home last night and as I pulled off a stop sign and hit that gas it seemed like 3/4 of the power was just revving the engine and 1/4 was actually turning the tires. While this was happening I could smell the clutch burning even though the pedal was all the way out. So I pulled over and figured I could let it cool for a little while. After a while I pulled back out and since I was only 10 minutes from home I said screw it and drove the rest of the way home very gently.The clutch was on the list to be replaced within the next couple weeks anyway so I assumed that that is what it was and I ordered the new clutch last night. However, I can still put the truck in gear and can still change gears, it just doesn't seem to be transfering most of the power to the wheels. I told someone I work with about it and he thinks that it is most likely the transmission not the clutch, which would really suck. Any ideas? What do you think the problem is?

 

Clutch. How many miles on the current one?

 

I was sure that was the clutch but I am not a mechanic, I am learning as I go with this truck, so when someone told me that it probably wasn't the clutch that made me nervous. I would hate to do the clutch then find out that that wasn't the problem.

I honestly don't know, I bought the truck with 88,000 miles and the clutch was not great then, it is up to 130,000 now and like I said, the clutch was on the list to get done within the next couple weeks.

What a n00b, I forgot to throw that in. 98 Taco 2.7L 4wd 130,000 miles.

 

Yep, definitely the clutch. I have never heard of a manual trans "slipping."

130K on the original is pretty good.

 

That's the exact same symptom I've seen on other vehicles with a worn clutch.

Chris

 

I was sure that is what it was but having someone who I usually trust as far as vehicle advice tell me that it might be the tranny made me nervous so I figured it was worth asking.

 

Either way you're going to have to drop the tranny. So do that and check the clutch, I'm sure you'll find it worn. Like 96 Runner said manual trannys don't slip. Generally when they do go the truck doesn't move at all.

 

I agree on the clutch being the issue. As you put more force quickly it will slip, therefore the higher RPM w/o increase in speed.