Greeting forum, new and first post. Problem on darling daughters 2004 TL @ 150,000. Bought used from a dealer, but no signs the clutch has been replace. Friday last DD comes home and says car is driving funny, over revving and not accelerating. I suspect the clutch. Fluid in reservoir just above min. No leaks at pedal or slave cylinder. With engine running able to let out clutch fully with slight engine lag but not enough to stop it. Can drive it while feathering the clutch to build speed, but clutch will not engage fully. When in gear, park brake on, clutch released engine runs but no squealing, grinding, smells or any other signs of a clutch burning. Just an initial indication of an engagement then nothing else. I inspected the clutch fork while the clutch pedal was cycled and it appears to move and return with no problem. There is play in the fork when the clutch is engage (no pedal), but not sure if this is normal. I found out that these cars have self adjusting clutches. My questions is, could it be anything other than a worn clutch? Prior to this there were absolutely no signs of a clutch issue that I have encountered before with a M/T. Could the self adjusters prevent the normal signs of clutch wear to the point the clutch will not engage? Thanks, and being a member of a JK forum, I am sure you all will have a wealth of info.
Thanks in advance,
Brian B. San Lorenzo, CA.

 

From what I have read on here, there is pretty much no sign of a failing clutch until it is just done.

 

That's why I reached out here. Normally a clutch lets you know that it is going out. But when I read that these are self adjusting I was wondering if it could be something else. Would you happened to know if there is a way to verify that it is the clutch? I don't want to dig into it to find out that it is something else.

 

I do not know....I am always worried about mine for the same reason. I have 160K on the original clutch and no idea when it will fail.

 

Is the slave cylinder rod fully retracted?

 

What kind of free-play in the clutch pedal?
If normal, @ 1/2", then I'd say time for a clutch assembly and possibly a flywheel.

Daughter been going to the dragstrip?

 

The slave cylinder moves in and out freely. When the pedal is released the shaft retracts and the fork has play in it. I first suspected that the fork may have been binding and not let the clutch return. As far as the DD at the track. She is a very good driver and has only put about 5k miles on it. Since it was a used car not sure what the previous owner was up to

 

After I posted the reference to the dragstrip, which was a joke, I tried to remove it, but too late.

Have actually seen many M/T cars need work well before what I consider very high mileage.
You are correct in that one doesn't know the life the car had before the purchase, and with a clutch,
as long as there is material on the disc and the pp has tension, there is no way to know the life
expectancy until it goes.
Seems as though yours will need to have the assembly replaced so take a good look at the flywheel,
and if any doubts have that also replaced.

 

No problems. She's 24 now and not as heavy on the gas. % years ago.......well that's a different story. Thanks for the info. I went ahead and ordered the parts, and going to do the timing belt and w.p while I am at it.