How much does it cost to replace clutch (parts & labor) and general n00b stick driving questions

[psteng19]

OK, I just got a manual car for cheap, '96 Sentra 5 speed (high miles) and been trying to learn stick on it.
My dad takes it for a spin and he says clutch needs to be replaced pretty soon.

1. How much will it cost me? Will I need to have the flywheel resurfaced?

Also, I'm sorta new to driving stick... trying to learn it the second time around
My dad also sucks as a teacher so I've come to ATOT with questions.

2.How do you get the car going (in first gear of course) without it being jerky?
I'll either stall, or the car moves forward in a jerky motion, not very smooth.

3. Does stalling a lot hurt the car in any way?

4. The 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 shifts... do you release the clutch completely before giving it gas?
Or do you gas while releasing clutch (like in 1st)? <--- don't think so because it also gets jerky when doing this beyond 1st.

TIA

 

[SHoddyCOmp]

It doesnt have to be jerky if you give it gas before the clutch is entirely released, you just have to me more careful to let it out gradually...im still a n00b too, my car is a stick but im restoring it and the car i drive is a sluggomatic so i dont get any practice

 

[psteng19]

What about clutch parts and labor?

 

[Evadman]

look in the owners manual. your sentra may not have a self adjusting clutch. It may just need adjustment like my '95 Zuk.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

1. How much will it cost me? Will I need to have the flywheel resurfaced?

Beats me.

Also, I'm sorta new to driving stick... trying to learn it the second time around
My dad also sucks as a teacher so I've come to ATOT with questions.

2.How do you get the car going (in first gear of course) without it being jerky?
I'll either stall, or the car moves forward in a jerky motion, not very smooth.

Let out the clutch until you feel it start to grip - then gently apply gas. Slowly go off clutch while increasing gas. Practice frequently.
Alternatively, rev up to about 3500 and drop the clutch. Note - will need to replace tires soon.

3. Does stalling a lot hurt the car in any way?

Not terribly, but it sure makes you look stupid. Stalling can also be potentially dangerous if the dumbass behind you doesn't get on the brakes and you can't restart in time to get out of his way.

4. The 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 shifts... do you release the clutch completely before giving it gas?
Or do you gas while releasing clutch (like in 1st)? <--- don't think so because it also gets jerky when doing this.

It depends on the car. Gas while releasing clutch in 1st is pretty much all around. Do it in 2->3rd, but a little less so. Higher than that it doesn't seem to matter as much.

- M4H

 

[Cyberian]

Also, I'm sorta new to driving stick... trying to learn it the second time around
My dad also sucks as a teacher so I've come to ATOT with questions.

I wish you the best of luck, but I don't see a way in hell that you can learn how to drive a manual transmission on an Internet Forum.
You just have to go out and practice.
Go to a park or a huge supermarket parking lot and practice.
Having someone that is good at driving a stick along would be a big help.

 

[Evadman]

1. If you get a new cluctch, get the flywheel resurfaced. Always. No excuses. If you don't, it can kill your new clutch in a few hundred miles. The clutch and flywheel take a "set" after being used for a while. The flywheel was set to the old disk, not the new one.

2. more gas and release slower.

3. See M4H's post.

4. Don't use the clutch after getting the vehicle moving. rev match. bonus points for downshifting without using clutch. ( I upshift without clucth every time, and only downshift without it to show off )

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Also, I'm sorta new to driving stick... trying to learn it the second time around
My dad also sucks as a teacher so I've come to ATOT with questions.

I wish you the best of luck, but I don't see a way in hell that you can learn how to drive a manual transmission on an Internet Forum.
You just have to go out and practice.
Go to a park or a huge supermarket parking lot and practice.
Having someone that is good at driving a stick along would be a big help.

I plan on taking tips from here and keeping them in mind while practicing

 

[Scootin159]

1) Depends on the car....Mine's looking to be about $1500 to do, but yours is probalby more in the $300 range I would guess (anyone with more info on Nissan's wanna jump in?)

2) Practice. Just gotta give it the right amount of gas & get a good feel on the clutch. If it makes ya feel any better...it is sometimes harder with an old clutch. Took me about 2 months to get it down good, but everyone's different.

3) Technically...probalby a little, it does cause some sudden vibration. Realalistically, not really. Just about the same thing happens every time you turn off your engine. It probably does more to the transmission than the engine anyways, but I wouldn't worry about it. You're in luck in a way, once you figure out how to do the clutch it'll be time to replace it, so you won't feel so bad for having burned one out learning.

4) Yes, give it a little bit of gas. Ideally you want the engine RPM's to be at the RPM's of the next gear when you release the clutch. i.e. let off the gas some on upshifts to lower the RPM's, and give it a little more gas on downshifts. Once you get this down good you should be able to shift from 5th gear at like 50mph (depending on your gearing) to like 2nd gear without the passenger being able to notice anything more than a change in exhaust note. I wouldn't try this right away, but maybe work up to it....like try 4th to 2nd, etc (Make sure that you will still be within a safe RPM range for the gear you're shifting into....dropping it into 2nd at 80mph won't be pretty).

 

[tcsenter]

The clutch replacement on the 94 Ford Taurus SHO I owned a few years ago was nearly $800.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Does your dad suck as a teacher, or do you suck at taking lessons from your dad?

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Does your dad suck as a teacher, or do you suck at taking lessons from your dad?

are you saying blind leading the blind??? :Q

 

[Shawn]

4. Don't use the clutch after getting the vehicle moving. rev match. bonus points for downshifting without using clutch. ( I upshift without clucth every time, and only downshift without it to show off )

eh? doesn't that grind the gears?

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Does your dad suck as a teacher, or do you suck at taking lessons from your dad?

Let's just say I'm not the best at this (stalled a few times) plus his low patience/tolerance = not a good combo.