Manual 5 Speed Clutch Pedal

Hi All - I just bought a 2000 5 speed manual and the clutch pedal has a smaller range of motion to it than most manual cars I have driven (I also owned an '88 4runner manual). I am curious if this is typical for this year and/or generation?

Also, the clutch pedal is very tight when pushing it enough down to engage, and I was wondering if this is typical as well for year/gen?

Additionally is it possible to loosen the pedal up so it does not take so much effort to push it in?

I would hardly call the gear changing smooth or easy, and it is easily the most difficult out of any car I have driven.

Thanks!

 

I just bought a '96 with the 5 speed and 175,000 miles. I don't know if it has the original clutch but nothing in the maintenance records indicate it was replaced. The clutch on mine also takes a lot of effort to push and has to be completely to the floor before the engine will start. It engages quickly when I let it up. The transmission is also "picky"--sometimes it doesn't want to go into gear, other times it shifts easily. First gear is always hard to shift into. I think part of it is me not always hitting the slot for the gear but it's definitely not as slick as most other manuals I've driven. The stick wiggles a little when in gear which I've heard is caused by loose shifter bushings. I've got the parts, $20 or less on Ebay, but haven't put them in yet. I haven't talked to anyone else so I don't know if this is characteristic of the 5 Speed or indicates a problem.

 

Sounds like my truck exactly. From what I have read, this seems to be typical of this generation. However, folks have suggested that I bleed the clutch b/c air bubbles in the fluid can make the pedal difficult to press down. Pressing it into the floor is common as well, since you have to disengage this clutch sensor (look under your dash and watch what happens when you push the clutch in, it releases off this sensor). My gears are picky as well, some remedies noted are use Redline synthetic transmission fluid and that seems to have helped some with smoothing out gear shifting:

Never received answers to my questions:

transmission = GL-4 75W-90 (3.5 qts.) - use Redline Synthetic Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - MT-90 75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil

transfer case = GL-5 75W-90 (1.5 qts.)
I assume use the following Redline Product??? - Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - 75W90 NS GL-5 Gear Oil

differentials = GL-5 80W-90 (2.0 qts. front, 2.5 qts. rear)
However, there does not seem to be an equivalent Redline product for the differentials. Is that true? If so, what is the best use in lieu?

 

Check this thread out as well --received answers to the above..

 

Thanks. Changing the fluid sounds like the first thing to try.