solid, loud click when clutch is engaged

Hello all , and thanks in advance for the help. I have a 2009 Toyota Tacoma 4 cylinder with a 5 speed manual transmission. This morning, I heard for the first time a loud "click" or "clack" when I press on the clutch pedal to engage the clutch. It now happens every time I press on the clutch pedal, and it happens near the bottom of the travel of the pedal. I can also feel a thump on the pedal through my shoes when the noise occurs. I found where the actuating arm enters the bell housing, and I had my wife step on clutch. The same thump, kind of like an impact, is also noticeable when I touch the actuating arm as it moves. I checked the clutch/brake fluid, and the level is fine.

Other than the noise, the clutch works perfectly. This Tacoma has 43,000 easy miles on it - no towing, no offroad, no heavy hauling.

Has anyone had this problem? Is it serious? Although I am the first and only owner, no clutch problem (even, for example, a defective, simple part of the actuating mechanism) is covered by the Toyota warrantee beyond 36,000 miles. The local, honest and good mechanic said it will be at least $400-$500, because whatever the problem is, it is inside the bell housing, which requires pulling the transmission (the hydraulic clutch slave seems fine). My instinct is to drive it until it stops working, but I am concerned about my wife getting stranded somewhere (we only have one car), so I am concerned. Any advice or help is welcome.
Thanks,
Tony

 

bump for an answer

 

Thanks for the bump Mountain Earth. Actually, I glanced at a Haynes repair manual, and I rewrote the question using the correct names of the parts likely involved in the problem. Here it is:

Hello all , and thanks in advance for the help. I have a 2009 Toyota Tacoma 4 cylinder with a 5 speed manual transmission. This morning, I heard for the first time a loud "click" or "clack" when I press on the clutch pedal to engage the clutch. It now happens every time I press on the clutch pedal, and it happens near the bottom of the travel of the pedal. I can also feel a thump on the pedal through my shoes when the noise occurs. I found where the "release arm" enters the bell housing, and I had my wife step on clutch. The same thump, kind of like an impact, is also noticeable when I touch the release arm as it moves. I checked the clutch/brake fluid, and the level is fine.

Other than the noise, the clutch works perfectly. This Tacoma has 43,000 easy miles on it - no towing, no offroad, no heavy hauling.

Has anyone had this problem? Is it serious? Although I am the first and only owner, no clutch problem (even, for example, a defective release arm assembly) is covered by the Toyota warrantee beyond 36,000 miles. The local, honest and good mechanic said it will be at least $400-$500, because whatever the problem is, it is inside the bell housing, which requires pulling the transmission (the hydraulic release arm slave seems fine). My instinct is to drive it until it stops working, but I am concerned about my wife getting stranded somewhere (we only have one car), so I am concerned. Any advice or help is welcome.
Thanks,
Tony

 

Thanks all for the advice. The problem is solved. The local and good shop lubed all contact points on the release arm assembly - apparently they have a tool that can sneak inside the bell housing and do the job!

Thanks again, I hope adding this to the data base helps someone one day.
Tony