Clutch problems

I've got a bit of an idea where to start with this, but thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone might care to save me some needless dicking around.

2000 Tacoma 2.7, just under 100,000 and running as good as ever, but yesterday started feeling clutch problems. Inconsistency in the pedal, first felt like clutch engagement was a lot closer to the floor quite suddenly, then the pedal wouldn't engage the clutch at all--stuck in gear. Pumped it a few times and the problem went away for the time being. Happened briefly again later. Wanna deal with in it the garage instead of on the side of the road.

Seemed like a hydraulic issue. First thought was it felt like an air bubble in the line, so I guess starting with bleed the system, but my main question is can bleeding it fix a hydraulic issue or does this likely point to an internal leak and need to replace master/slave etc? How might I go about diagnosing it? What else should I look at or think about before throwing money at parts?

Welcome any thoughts! Thanks.

 

If there's air in the line now, and there wasn't before, you do have a leak. I'd think with a leak like that you'd see fluid somewhere.

If there's not air you could have the start of a failure in one of the cylinders. I believe that if the slave cylinder is letting fluid by it will leak fluid outside the slave and you should be able to see it. Otherwise, the master can bypass internally.

 

I had a similar issue with my 2003 at about 120,000 miles and had to replace the clutch master cylinder.

 

Always replace Master and Slave Cylinder and the rubber hose together.

Unless it is a very limited budget!!

Cause you will soon be changing them so may as well get it done.

I have had good luck with the Aisin Hydraulics