Puttering clutch depression sound; '87 4WD DL wagon

[finchjc]

When I depress the clutch on my '87 4WD DL wagon, it makes an interesting puttering sound... everything works properly (shifting is fluid and clutch goes in just fine), but the noise is somewhat unsettling. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but it's almost like a descending, sticky clicking sound; puttering is the best word I can think of. The noise is stronger depending on how quickly I kick the clutch in and how high the RPMs are at that time. Any ideas?

Also, the engine is really jerky within the first five minutes of warming up, and doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders - acceleration/power is well below the performance I'd expect even from a slightly older vehicle. Transmission is loud, especially when idling. It has a lot of trouble climbing long hills on the freeway and such. I'm gonna try replacing some spark plugs, but I'm not sure what the problem might be.

Otherwise, it always gets me where I need to go, but I absolutely love this car and want to make sure it stays that way. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! - Jordan, Walla Walla WA

[zyewdall]

1) on the clutch noise, does it make the noise if the engine is turned off when you push the pedal in and out, or just when running? I have had the linkage make noises sometimes.

 

2) power -- I would check sparkplugs, and wires. Is it carbed or fuel injected? That'll determine the direction for further troubleshooting. Also, replacing the air filter could help if it's really dirty. Also, one of that era could have a plugged cat.

 

3) I've never had a noisy transmission at idle. At speed, yes. Have you checked the fluid level in it? I could just be a little low on fluid.