for those who drive manual trans vehicles

[spanky]

Originally posted by: luckysnafu
Damn, what a long ass thread. Park in 1st or reverse with the brake on, it's not that freakin' hard people!!!!!!

its not hard if u have been trained to do it that way since u started. for me, i am so used to my routine, the two times i put my car in gear after i parked this weekend... when i started the car...

i am sure i can train myself to a new routine which involves checking to see if the car is in gear before starting the car, but it's gonna take some time. and even afterwards... i just pray i dont have a bad day and forget while parallel parked :Q

 

[luckysnafu]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: luckysnafu
Damn, what a long ass thread. Park in 1st or reverse with the brake on, it's not that freakin' hard people!!!!!!

its not hard if u have been trained to do it that way since u started. for me, i am so used to my routine, the two times i put my car in gear after i parked this weekend... when i started the car...

i am sure i can train myself to a new routine which involves checking to see if the car is in gear before starting the car, but it's gonna take some time. and even afterwards... i just pray i dont have a bad day and forget while parallel parked :Q

Do you start the car with the clutch in and then let it out? If you do, just keep the clutch in until you drive off. You should always be in the habit of checking what gear your car is in when you are going to let off the clutch, this is kind of common sense. Or take the car out of gear when you first get in the car so it will be like you are always used to.

If you start the car in gear with the clutch out, you need to train yourself to start with the clutch in.

I learned to drive manual when I started driving and that's all my parents ever drove so I was always used to parking in gear and starting with the car in gear.

 

[spanky]

yes, from reading through the responses in this thread, parking in gear def is a good idea. i think i am gonna make a sign and stick it right on the steering wheel so i don't forget to check what gear i'm in :laugh:

 

[Davegod]

neutral & handbrake. ok ok i'll try to get into habit of leaving it in gear if I cant aviod parking on the slope.

if on a upslope, once you've almost stopped turn the wheels away from the kerb (and vice-versa). if the car does roll it'll have to deal with the kerb first.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: Aquila76
On my car, you have to have the clutch engaged, even if it's in neutral, to start the car. No remote start for my car even if I wanted one.

i heard there was a way to bypass that. of course... just what i heard... dunno if there is truth to it.

There are sensor kits to bypass it, but I'm not sure if that could mess anything else up in the car computer. Playing with sensors for needless toys isn't something I'm comfortable with. Modifying sensors for performance however...

 

[cbehnken]

Always leave the trans in a gear in you're on a hill. Most parking breaks are dinky and have trouble holding large hills for an extended period of time.

 

[cbehnken]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
No, I use the emergency brake. If something happens like getting rear ended, I rather not trash my drive train.

It won't hurt the drive train at all. Thats how people push start cars but without a key it won't start. It will just turn the engine doing no damage what so ever well other then the rearend damage itself.

In an automatic it can snap off the parking pawl in the transmission which is $$$.

You're right about the manual transmission though.

ZV

Tires will slip long before the parking pawl will break. Unless you have a sh*tbox transmission.

 

[cbehnken]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
What's the point of leaving it in gear?
The car is at neutral when it's off. Well for mine it is at least. I can shift gears without pressing the clutch when my engine is off.

Not if you're on a hill and the brake is off.

My point is that the car stays in neutral while the engine is off no matter what position you put the stick in.

That is incorrect. The "car" is in gear if the transmission is in gear, period. Doesn't matter if the engine is running or not.
If the trans is in gear, the clutch is engaged (not depressed), then the car is effectively in "park".
Edit: And if these conditions exist, and you DON'T have the brake on too and you're on an incline, then you won't be able to shift the transmission out of gear without the car rolling.

OK, so why am I able to switch gears without pressing the clutch while my engine is off?

The only reason shoving the clutch in while your engine is running makes your transmissino easier to shift (while the car is moving) is because it allows the input shaft on your transmission to freewheel and this allows your synchonizers to match the speed of two meshing gears so they go in smoothly. You can shift while the engine is running without the clutch, but it is more difficult because you have to let the engine "rev-match" to the next gear. I.e. if you shift from first to second at 3000 RPM before you put it into second let the RPMs drop till where they'd be in 2nd. If you do this correctly it will shift smootly with no grinding and no clutching.

 

[Aquila76]

Yeh, I had to drive a U-Haul truck with no clutch once, doing just that. F'ing U-Haul should fsck off and die.

 

[TomKazansky]

always leave it in either reverse or first. i leave it in first.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: cbehnken

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
What's the point of leaving it in gear?
The car is at neutral when it's off. Well for mine it is at least. I can shift gears without pressing the clutch when my engine is off.

Not if you're on a hill and the brake is off.

My point is that the car stays in neutral while the engine is off no matter what position you put the stick in.

That is incorrect. The "car" is in gear if the transmission is in gear, period. Doesn't matter if the engine is running or not.
If the trans is in gear, the clutch is engaged (not depressed), then the car is effectively in "park".
Edit: And if these conditions exist, and you DON'T have the brake on too and you're on an incline, then you won't be able to shift the transmission out of gear without the car rolling.

OK, so why am I able to switch gears without pressing the clutch while my engine is off?

The only reason shoving the clutch in while your engine is running makes your transmissino easier to shift (while the car is moving) is because it allows the input shaft on your transmission to freewheel and this allows your synchonizers to match the speed of two meshing gears so they go in smoothly. You can shift while the engine is running without the clutch, but it is more difficult because you have to let the engine "rev-match" to the next gear. I.e. if you shift from first to second at 3000 RPM before you put it into second let the RPMs drop till where they'd be in 2nd. If you do this correctly it will shift smootly with no grinding and no clutching.

Thanks for the explanation.
Anyways, I tried it today. Left it in first gear while parked on my decline driveway. Car stopped without the handbrake. Works like a charm.

 

[OCNewbie]

Originally posted by: cbehnken
You can shift while the engine is running without the clutch, but it is more difficult because you have to let the engine "rev-match" to the next gear. I.e. if you shift from first to second at 3000 RPM before you put it into second let the RPMs drop till where they'd be in 2nd. If you do this correctly it will shift smootly with no grinding and no clutching.

This is how pretty much all 18-wheeler drivers do it. Especially upshifting, no clutch used at all. I think most of their tranny's don't have synchros.

 

[domsq]

Putting it in gear when parking works a treat! Tried that today; after I'd switched the engine off, I put it into first (was facing up a hill) and released the brake... it holds the car quite well! Obviously, I use this method in conjunction with the parking brake though.

 

[luckysnafu]

Originally posted by: OCNewbie

Originally posted by: cbehnken
You can shift while the engine is running without the clutch, but it is more difficult because you have to let the engine "rev-match" to the next gear. I.e. if you shift from first to second at 3000 RPM before you put it into second let the RPMs drop till where they'd be in 2nd. If you do this correctly it will shift smootly with no grinding and no clutching.

This is how pretty much all 18-wheeler drivers do it. Especially upshifting, no clutch used at all. I think most of their tranny's don't have synchros.

There is nothing quite like having your clutch go out on you and having to drive around without a clutch...lol. I have had to do this twice already. Once in my parents old volvo station wagon the cable came off and another time on my old BMW the slave cylinder went out. It isn't too bad, but it just sucks starting from a stop. You have to actually start the car in first gear and get it going.

 

[Toasthead]

I put it in first usually

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: Jon855
I always put it in gear when parking, it's better to have it in a gear then not in a gear in case the parking brake fails. On a uphill facing up, always put it in the first gear and park there. On a downhill facing down, always put it in reverse and park there... On a level ground, typically I park in 1st gear as well... It's a good practice and wtf do u need a remote starter for? U get in and start the friggin engine and drive it around... The car isnt a RC so get used to it...

:evil:

just a lazy bastard. it would be nice to start the car from inside the house, esp on cold days. just a nice little luxury to have i guess.

and what would that change opposed to get in the car and start it on cold days?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: B00ne
just a lazy bastard. it would be nice to start the car from inside the house, esp on cold days. just a nice little luxury to have i guess.

and what would that change opposed to get in the car and start it on cold days?

[/quote]

B/c you can start the car from inside the house and "pre-heat" the car instead of sitting in the cold until it warms up?

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: Phil

If you weren't taught that, then your driving instructor is a complete looney.

yup, sounds like my cousin. i just got in and said "so how do i move?"

Your... cousin taught you to drive?

Most "professional" driver's ed instructors in the US never explain how to drive a standard transmission. It's just not common enough.

ZV

I'm not trying to be an asshole or condascend anyone, but damn I'm glad I learned to drive in a "tough" country. I stopped on a yellow hatched "Keep Clear" bit of road on my test, and the only reason I passed is because I told the instructor what I had done and apologised.

Do you have two different types of licenses over there too- manual/automatic and automatic-only?

Meh. Race training is even better. PCA autocross is a blast.

I do like Germany's system better than the US one, and I agree about the UK's two-license system.

ZV

What do u mean with germanies system?
If they have 2 licenses in UK, we have about the same. When you get your license on an automatic you may not drive a manual. However in real live noone has ever asked for my license and I doubt any officer would ask for my glasses (as stated in the license) when I dont wear them. So I guess same is true for this automatic only thing

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: B00ne
just a lazy bastard. it would be nice to start the car from inside the house, esp on cold days. just a nice little luxury to have i guess.

and what would that change opposed to get in the car and start it on cold days?

B/c you can start the car from inside the house and "pre-heat" the car instead of sitting in the cold until it warms up?[/quote]

But that would be an incredible waste of gas (besides this is prohibited here for environmental reasons). Why dont you use an auxiliary heater or independent vehicle heating (those two words were given by the online translator) you now those things that heat your car and engine - you can program them or remote start. While those do use a little gas, they convert it to heat much more efficiently - since that is what they were designed for.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: B00ne

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: B00ne
just a lazy bastard. it would be nice to start the car from inside the house, esp on cold days. just a nice little luxury to have i guess.

and what would that change opposed to get in the car and start it on cold days?

B/c you can start the car from inside the house and "pre-heat" the car instead of sitting in the cold until it warms up?

But that would be an incredible waste of gas (besides this is prohibited here for environmental reasons). Why dont you use an auxiliary heater or independent vehicle heating (those two words were given by the online translator) you now those things that heat your car and engine - you can program them or remote start. While those do use a little gas, they convert it to heat much more efficiently - since that is what they were designed for.[/quote]

on cold days, do u just start ur car and zoom off? don't ask me why, but i was taught to warm up the engine for a min or two. if i had the luxury of remote start, i could walked up to the window in my pj's and start warming up the car. after i am dressed, when i hop into the car, i am immediately ready to head on my way. i am not familiar with those alternative heating methods you mentioned before, so i can't really comment on them.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: domsq
I wonder why it is recommended to push the clutch in, when starting the car (even if it's in neutral)? I have a small 4-cylinder pickup, and I can start the engine without pushing the clutch in... so long as it's in neutral of course, and the parking brake is engaged. It's not old either, as it's a 2003 model.

Great way to do 2 things:

1. Keep people who parked in gear from smashing into whatever is in front (or back) of them.

2. Prematurely wear out your throwout bearing.

 

[geno]

yes, because my parking brake is broken

 

[Robor]

Always 1st or Reverse depending on which way I'm going next.

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: B00ne

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: B00ne
just a lazy bastard. it would be nice to start the car from inside the house, esp on cold days. just a nice little luxury to have i guess.

and what would that change opposed to get in the car and start it on cold days?

B/c you can start the car from inside the house and "pre-heat" the car instead of sitting in the cold until it warms up?

But that would be an incredible waste of gas (besides this is prohibited here for environmental reasons). Why dont you use an auxiliary heater or independent vehicle heating (those two words were given by the online translator) you now those things that heat your car and engine - you can program them or remote start. While those do use a little gas, they convert it to heat much more efficiently - since that is what they were designed for.

on cold days, do u just start ur car and zoom off? don't ask me why, but i was taught to warm up the engine for a min or two. if i had the luxury of remote start, i could walked up to the window in my pj's and start warming up the car. after i am dressed, when i hop into the car, i am immediately ready to head on my way. i am not familiar with those alternative heating methods you mentioned before, so i can't really comment on them.[/quote]


Well since I dont have one of those heaters either, yes I just get in my car and zoom off. That is how you should do it everything else is a waste of money/gas. Off course as always when you start driving, keep you revs to medium .

My dad has this heating device in his car, afaik it is basically an oven connected with the cooling (and interior heating) system of the car. It burns gas and heats the car/engine.
example

 

[straubs]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: spanky
i was unaware of this and when i started the car, he jumped forward and stalled. i was like "WTF!" :|

Of course, you're supposed to step on the clutch when you start the car to prevent this possiblity no matter what gear it was left in.

since park in neutral, i step on the clutch, start the car, let go of the clutch. i never have a problem with this routine, until that one time. i guess i should make a habit of checking the shiftknob (or wiggle it around) before starting the car. meh.

You don't check if it's in neutral before letting go of the clutch?

no, becuz 99.9999% of the time, i drive my car, and i always put it in neutral after i park (it's almost a reflex for me that after i park, i put the car in nuetral, pull e-brake, then pull key). i guess when i was taught, no one mentioned putting the car in gear after parking.

The question is what are you doing starting the car at all if you're going to sit motionless in neutral? 99.9999% of the time I start my car, it's because in the next 2 seconds I'm going to be driving! If I was driving and auto, I would start the car and put it in D or R within 2 seconds, not sit motionless.