I am looking at a 99 runner for possible purchase, and think the clutch may be about toast. When I looked the truck over, the clutch fluid was low with no obvious leaks at the master or slave. The clutch begins to engage right off the floor. Shifting is clean as long as I mash the pedal to the floor, occaisonally had a little gear grinding when down shifting, but I think it was because I did not always push the pedal to the firewall (I am used to a higher clutch). Every vehicle I have ever driven has a slightly different friction point on the clutch, but this one seems really low. Tried to get it to slip but couldnt. Does the low pedal and low fluid indicate excessive clutch wear? If so I may try to get a lower price knowing I need to put a clutch in. Anyone else have a 99? Where does your clutch begin to engage? Thanks for any comments or observations.

Pull the floor mat up and see if the liner is wet. On the older rigs, if the master cylinder was on its way out, it would leak that way, and not down the engine side of the firewall.

We have FSM's for these later trucks in the Taco section sticky'd there. There's one for a 2000 that I use. Check the clutch specs there.

See if these guys will let you take the rig to a mechanic that you trust to go thru it, and spend a couple bucks on a Carfax. You can negotiate from there.

I got a 2000 4runner with manual trans and i have it for 4 years so far.Theres nothing wrong with the clutch,Its normal.Mine is the same thing, as long it dont slip and accelerate when you gas it, its fine.I ask a toyota tech about the clutch and he said all toyota clutch are like that.My other toyota(corolla gts)is the same thing too.

Thanks for the replies, I have run a carfax, doesnt show anything except 1 change of registration/ownership. I have also looked over the clutch spec in the FSM and that does not help much. Can anyone help by explaining the difference in pedal free play and pushrod play? I know they are adjusting different areas of the linkage, but the point of measurement seems to be the same. Wish I could find a mechanic I trusted, they seem to be about as rare as honest used car salesmen! Thats why I try to do as much of my own work as possible, occaisonally get in over my head, but I learn lots that way. This site has been a valuable resource for that. Thanks again.