Manual Transmission Questions

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I'm learning to drive a stick on my dad's 91 Accord which I will be using once I get my license in February, hopefully that is.

One area I need to improve upon is acceleration times with it so I don't spend a lot of time catching speed at stop lights and stop signs. When I do this, I have tried revving a little higher in first gear but I see very little speed gains in 1st gear, obviously, so what should I do?

As in, is first gear just to get the car in motion and then use second to catch speed and then third to get a lot more speed until 4th and fifth? Also, I usually avoid taking the RPM amount over 2500, is that fine?

Any other tips would be appreciated as well.

 

[waylman]

2500? you can go alot higher than that. Take it up to 4k or so in 1st gear. That'll give you some speed.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: waylman
2500? you can go alot higher than that. Take it up to 4k or so in 1st gear. That'll give you some speed.

Whaaa? Isn't that a bit high for a 4 cylinder 91 Accord? My dad has taken really good care of this car too, over 160k miles and no change of clutch needed, etc, basically no major problems. I want to take it easy on the engine as well as I can since I want it to last atleast 40k more miles until I can buy a car...

 

[Ausm]

take it up to the red line!!


Ausm

 

[TechnoKid]

If you want to accelerate faster in a given gear, hold that gear longer; ie, push the pedal down faster/more in that gear, and then shoft into the next gear to continue accelerating.

Hondas make a lot of their power in higher rpm. 2500rpm is ok I guess, but it makes its power up higher than that. You may need to adjust to shifting at a higher rpm, however.

I wasn't quite able to put in words what I want to say, but I hope this helped rather than confused.

 

[waylman]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: waylman
2500? you can go alot higher than that. Take it up to 4k or so in 1st gear. That'll give you some speed.

Whaaa? Isn't that a bit high for a 4 cylinder 91 Accord? My dad has taken really good care of this car too, over 160k miles and no change of clutch needed, etc, basically no major problems. I want to take it easy on the engine as well as I can since I want it to last atleast 40k more miles until I can buy a car...

4k is fine. won't hurt the engine at all.
edit, also, you will get better with time. you need to learn to take the clutch out faster than you are right now in 1st, and make quicker shifts. you'll be ok in time.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: ausm
take it up to the red line!!


Ausm

Hehe, sure, once I buy my own car I might, but I'm not even 16 and I'm glad I'll have a car when I'll be 16!

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: waylman
2500? you can go alot higher than that. Take it up to 4k or so in 1st gear. That'll give you some speed.

Whaaa? Isn't that a bit high for a 4 cylinder 91 Accord? My dad has taken really good care of this car too, over 160k miles and no change of clutch needed, etc, basically no major problems. I want to take it easy on the engine as well as I can since I want it to last atleast 40k more miles until I can buy a car...

4k is fine. won't hurt the engine at all.
edit, also, you will get better with time. you need to learn to take the clutch out faster than you are right now in 1st, and make quicker shifts. you'll be ok in time.

Ok, thanks!

 

[Hubris]

I've got a '93 Saturn with 196K miles on it, and it's still got its original clutch. Taking it to 4K RPMs is fine, especially in 1st gear. Yes, 1st gear is mainly for getting your car moving, while 2nd and 3rd are your 'power' gears. But 2500 is on the low side, especially on the highway, when running at 70-75 in 5th gear takes you around 3-3.5K (least in my car).

 

[SammyBoy]

lol, there's hardly any usable power at 2500rpms in most cars, let alone your pappy's honduh. If you wanna drive a bit quickly or keep up with normal speed traffic at lights, you're gonna have to get a bit more daring than that I know in my buddy's civic in 1st gear the thing's hardly rolling at 2500rpms in 1st and you'd lug big time in 2nd.

Bring it up to at least 4k or so in normal acceleration, not gonna hurt anything. I usually take my GTi up to 5k or so when i'm being mildly aggressive.

 

[Vic]

Just a tip: the faster you want to go, the more gas you give it, the higher you rev each gear. Those 2 should work together at all times. I can't stand riding in cars where the driver winds out each and every gear slowly and unneccesarily at low throttle, or just the opposite, gives a lot of throttle but shifts way too soon.

 

[NutBucket]

Bah, that car will last forever. Your power peak is about 5200 rpm. Hondas will rev all day long. Just don't do it while dad's in the car Assuming its been properly cared for you won't do any harm by visiting the redline

<-- Has a '91 Accord

 

[imported_Tomato]

No specific tips, but have fun driving... I learned how to drive stick a weeks back, and it is an EXHILERATING experience. Hard to back to automatic afterwards...

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Bah, that car will last forever. Your power peak is about 5200 rpm. Hondas will rev all day long. Just don't do it while dad's in the car Assuming its been properly cared for you won't do any harm by visiting the redline

<-- Has a '91 Accord

Hehe, thanks.

 

[m2kewl]

yeah, i take my car into vtec terroritory everytime i accelerate. honda's rev high...then again other's already said it

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: m2kewl
yeah, i take my car into vtec terroritory everytime i accelerate. honda's rev high...then again other's already said it

I love going past the 6250 redline on my tach to the actual 7400 rpm fuel cutoff

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

redline it! Your young and your learning to drive a manual car.

Redline that biyatch at every stop light!

Don't worry, the car is pretty slow to begin with, but you'll sure enjoy it.

 

[notfred]

If you weren't supposed to rev it past 2500 the red line on the tach would be at 2500, not 6500.

 

[Farbio]

i have a 90 accord manual, and never ever shift under 3500rpm unless i'm following a slow as sheet driver...it won't hurt, and you'll actually get to take advantage of your car's power. rev it and enjoy it

 

[nprotz]

Driving a stick was a big deal to me at first now I dont even think about it...its just automatic....i dont even look at my rpms unless im racing.....i usually just listen and can tell when to shift...or even feel when to shift....it will come natural the more you drive it

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: m2kewl
yeah, i take my car into vtec terroritory everytime i accelerate. honda's rev high...then again other's already said it

I love going past the 6250 redline on my tach to the actual 7400 rpm fuel cutoff

I thought the fuel cut on H22s was at 8k?

As for driving tips, you'll never understand how to drive the car unless you push it to its limits (or yours). You may understand the mechanics of driving, but the experience is something completely different. Take it up to whereever you feel comfortable.

 

[nprotz]

Originally posted by: Rent

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: m2kewl
yeah, i take my car into vtec terroritory everytime i accelerate. honda's rev high...then again other's already said it

I love going past the 6250 redline on my tach to the actual 7400 rpm fuel cutoff

I thought the fuel cut on H22s was at 8k?

As for driving tips, you'll never understand how to drive the car unless you push it to its limits (or yours). You may understand the mechanics of driving, but the experience is something completely different. Take it up to whereever you feel comfortable.

do the newer mustangs have a cut off? cause mine seems like it hesitates when i get the needle on up in the redline

 

[SeaSerpent]

For normal driving, shift at 3k.

This might help

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: waylman
2500? you can go alot higher than that. Take it up to 4k or so in 1st gear. That'll give you some speed.

Whaaa? Isn't that a bit high for a 4 cylinder 91 Accord? My dad has taken really good care of this car too, over 160k miles and no change of clutch needed, etc, basically no major problems. I want to take it easy on the engine as well as I can since I want it to last atleast 40k more miles until I can buy a car...

4k is fine. won't hurt the engine at all.
edit, also, you will get better with time. you need to learn to take the clutch out faster than you are right now in 1st, and make quicker shifts. you'll be ok in time.

lol, it depends on the engine, dont give advice like that. my trucks engine redlines below 4k rpm.

anyway, the little engines tend to like to wind up a bit. 2500 should be fine, though.

letting out the clutch a little faster should be the answer here... and knowing where the clutch engages, where to hold it while it syncs, and when to let off completely are key here.

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: nprotz

Originally posted by: Rent

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: m2kewl
yeah, i take my car into vtec terroritory everytime i accelerate. honda's rev high...then again other's already said it

I love going past the 6250 redline on my tach to the actual 7400 rpm fuel cutoff

I thought the fuel cut on H22s was at 8k?

As for driving tips, you'll never understand how to drive the car unless you push it to its limits (or yours). You may understand the mechanics of driving, but the experience is something completely different. Take it up to whereever you feel comfortable.

do the newer mustangs have a cut off? cause mine seems like it hesitates when i get the needle on up in the redline

You're probably hitting the rev limiter which I know GTs have (at what, 6700rpm?) Most newer cars have it to prevent the owner from blowing the motor. Aftermarket chips usually remove the rev limiter.