Questions for car gurus: Driving a manual transmission..

[Kenny]

I've driven a friend's MR2 which was a manual transmission, and I did fairly well. However, I am having trouble trying to figure out the clutch. After I was done driving his car, the strong smell of burning clutch was in the air.

Tomorrow I have to drive a car roughly 100 miles (mostly freeway of course), but I'm afraid of totally killing the clutch, as there are some things I still don't understand. This is because I initally thought you had to keep your foot on the clutch at all times, even on the freeway. Well I've done a lot of reading, but everyone has different opinions to this.

This is what I know, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Turning on the car: I need to leave it in first and depress the clutch fully.

After turning on the car: Foot on brake, foot depressed fully on clutch, let go of clutch slowly while giving it some gas.

Switching gears: Let go of gas, depress clutch fully, change gears, let go of clutch slowly while giving it some gas.

Freeway driving: Once I get into fifth, I can let go of the clutch and just ride the gas.

Say I wanna keep it at 35mph: Once I get into gear of choice, I can let go of the clutch and just ride the gas?

Slowing down: This is where everyone had different opinions. Do I downshift, or do I ride it on neutral, depress the clutch fully and brake?

When stopped at a light/stop sign: I leave it in neutral and press on only the brake. When I need to start it up again I depress the clutch fully, change to first, let go of the clutch slightly while giving it some gas.

Turning off the car: I need to leave it in first and put the parking brake.

Any help from you car gurus would be great!

Thanks.

 

[Shawn]

I never leave my car in gear when I turn it off but that's just me.

 

[gsaldivar]

How to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission

 

[paulney]

If you can't downshift - don't do it until you get enought experience and get a feel for the clutch. Otherwise you may end up with the so called 'moneyshift' - shifting down a gear or two at an inappropriately high speeds. Engine overrevs and blows.

First, slow down to the desired speed, then downshift a gear. Do not ride in neutral at high speeds under any circumstances. That's just asking for trouble.

 

[helpme]

You don't need to have it in first when starting the car, though you do need to have the clutch depressed.

Usually I'm in the proper gear when making turns, and just accelerate out and shift again when needed. I don't think it matters if you are in gear or not ?

You can put it in gear when parked, but I never do it just incase somebody hits my parked car.

 

[Kenny]

Originally posted by: gsaldivar
How to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission

Thanks, I've actually read that one first tonight. I didn't really think they explained everything well enough for me though.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

This is because I initally thought you had to keep your foot on the clutch at all times, even on the freeway.

When you're not changing gears and moving, don't press the clutch.

Only time to use clutch is when you're turning it on and when you change gears

 

[wetobasura]

Originally posted by: Kenny

This is because I initally thought you had to keep your foot on the clutch at all times, even on the freeway.

This is quite possibly the best way to fry a clutch. EVERYTIME after shifting remove your foot from the clutch pedal. No matter what speed you are going dont even let your foot rest on ithe pedal even slightly.

When i park my car I usually do leave the transmission in either first or reverse gear.

-weto

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

This is because I initally thought you had to keep your foot on the clutch at all times, even on the freeway.

When you're not changing gears and moving, don't press the clutch.

Only time to use clutch is when you're turning it on and when you change gears

yeah. no wonder there was a burning smell.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

As for slowing down, just keep brakes pressed until RPM's drop between 1000 to 1500 rpm. Once they reach that range, psuh the clutch is while holding onto brake at same time.

Once you get better, you can press clutch at a lower RPM, but it doesn't really matter

 

[Match]

You don't need to touch the clutch unless you're starting, changing gears, or stopping. Putting pressure on it otherwise is called riding the clutch and causes wear.

 

[Farbio]

you have it mostly right from what i see
1 - don't have to have car in gear to start it - always a good thing to keep clutch in when starting, in case it is in gear u don't jerk and hit something
2 - when driving at any speed and not accelerating hard or deccelerating, you can simply use the gas and brake as needed for the general same speeds

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
As for slowing down, just keep brakes pressed until RPM's drop between 1000 to 1500 rpm. Once they reach that range, psuh the clutch is while holding onto brake at same time.

Once you get better, you can press clutch at a lower RPM, but it doesn't really matter

my car idles at almost 1000rpm. isn't that a little low? that's gotta cause the engine to bog down. I usually put the car in neutral after it drops down to 2000rpm.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Kenny
I've driven a friend's MR2 which was a manual transmission, and I did fairly well. However, I am having trouble trying to figure out the clutch. After I was done driving his car, the strong smell of burning clutch was in the air.

This is what I know, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Turning on the car: I need to leave it in first and depress the clutch fully.

After turning on the car: Foot on brake, foot depressed fully on clutch, let go of clutch slowly while giving it some gas.

Switching gears: Let go of gas, depress clutch fully, change gears, let go of clutch slowly while giving it some gas.

Freeway driving: Once I get into fifth, I can let go of the clutch and just ride the gas.

Say I wanna keep it at 35mph: Once I get into gear of choice, I can let go of the clutch and just ride the gas?

Slowing down: This is where everyone had different opinions. Do I downshift, or do I ride it on neutral, depress the clutch fully and brake?

When stopped at a light/stop sign: I leave it in neutral and press on only the brake. When I need to start it up again I depress the clutch fully, change to first, let go of the clutch slightly while giving it some gas.

Turning off the car: I need to leave it in first and put the parking brake.

Any help from you car gurus would be great!

Thanks.

wow, surprised he let you drive an MR2 if you don't know stick...us MR2 owners can be pretty picky

anyway:

turning on the car: Leave it in NEUTRAL, depress clutch fully (other foot on brake), start. Avoids accidents (oops my left foot slipped and the car's in gear!)

starting out: in first, give it some gas and let out the clutch slowly. Don't give it TOO much gas. If you're going to err, err on the side of too slow clutch movement than too much gas.

shifting: let up on gas, clutch in, shift, clutch out quickly. No need to slowly let out the clutch once you're up to speed. Except maybe when you're downshifting heavily...but then you should be revmatching anyway, and you probably won't need to in this 100 mile trip.

once you get up to a steady speed, be it freeway or city street, your left foot should be FULLY off the clutch, and you should be in the highest gear which the car won't choke in. My Celica is in fifth at any speed above 30MPH, unless there's a really steep hill. Use the gas to adjust speed from here on out. If you need major acceleration, are climbing a hill, or are going slower than 30-35, you might need to downshift. Downshift one gear at a time at this stage in your driving experience.

slowing down: mmm...normally I'd say downshift, but since you are new to teh stick I'd say depress the clutch fully and use the brake.

when stopped/starting up from a stop: you got it

turning off the car: turn the engine off (you'll probably be holding the clutch at this point). Pull the parking brake, then shift into first or reverse and let up on the clutch.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: iloveme2

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
As for slowing down, just keep brakes pressed until RPM's drop between 1000 to 1500 rpm. Once they reach that range, psuh the clutch is while holding onto brake at same time.

Once you get better, you can press clutch at a lower RPM, but it doesn't really matter

my car idles at almost 1000rpm. isn't that a little low? that's gotta cause the engine to bog down. I usually put the car in neutral after it drops down to 2000rpm.

Well, you can pretty much let the engine help you with your braking all the way down to the idle mark. I usually downshift around 1500-2000 and let out the clutch again to do more engine braking, though.

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

it's like riding a bike...... i know that's not helpful, but it's all a matter of getting a feel of how much pressure is required at both pedals. just gotta practice. i'll tell you what, though. nothing like that first drive home. a crash course for learning!

ever driven a three in the tree? those are a hoot!

 

[PHiuR]

Originally posted by: iloveme2

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
As for slowing down, just keep brakes pressed until RPM's drop between 1000 to 1500 rpm. Once they reach that range, psuh the clutch is while holding onto brake at same time.

Once you get better, you can press clutch at a lower RPM, but it doesn't really matter

my car idles at almost 1000rpm. isn't that a little low? that's gotta cause the engine to bog down. I usually put the car in neutral after it drops down to 2000rpm.

that idle is a bit high actually...

and OP: stop riding the clutch bro

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: PHiuR

Originally posted by: iloveme2

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
As for slowing down, just keep brakes pressed until RPM's drop between 1000 to 1500 rpm. Once they reach that range, psuh the clutch is while holding onto brake at same time.

Once you get better, you can press clutch at a lower RPM, but it doesn't really matter

my car idles at almost 1000rpm. isn't that a little low? that's gotta cause the engine to bog down. I usually put the car in neutral after it drops down to 2000rpm.

that idle is a bit high actually...

and OP: stop riding the clutch bro

well I set my idle to 950. anything lower and the idle is extremely rough. the rough idle is caused by the supercharger so i don't really have a choice.

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: Farbio
you have it mostly right from what i see
1 - don't have to have car in gear to start it - always a good thing to keep clutch in when starting, in case it is in gear u don't jerk and hit something
2 - when driving at any speed and not accelerating hard or deccelerating, you can simply use the gas and brake as needed for the general same speeds

you can't start a manual car without pressing the clutch pedal anyways, so he has to do it.

 

[PHiuR]

i see.. on my mx6 when my car is in gear it idles at around 500ish to 600ish..and its a bit rough. (car vibrates) but when its in neutral/park it idles at 750+ and it is fine... gah...can't wait till i get my STI (manual ofcourse)

 

[Kenny]

Yeah I used to ride the clutch all the time. I figured that out once I smelled the clutch, thus why I needed to get some things cleared up in this thread.

Thanks for the info so far, I think I've got everything down. I should be able to take the car home without trouble, just need to practice for a while in an empty parking lot.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Xiety

Originally posted by: Farbio
you have it mostly right from what i see
1 - don't have to have car in gear to start it - always a good thing to keep clutch in when starting, in case it is in gear u don't jerk and hit something
2 - when driving at any speed and not accelerating hard or deccelerating, you can simply use the gas and brake as needed for the general same speeds

you can't start a manual car without pressing the clutch pedal anyways, so he has to do it.

not true. my dad's 1986 300zx will start in gear. it also lurches forward about 15ft. this is why i always leave my car in neutral when i park, even though my car won't start in gear.

 

[Goosemaster]

FYI

Here is basically how the clutch conencts the crankshaft(tube coming out of the engine that is being spun by the engine revolutions) to the driveshaft, which transfers that power to the back wheels(in a Reardrive car)

Basically, the rpm reading is that of the engine and pretty much the crankshaft IIRC, and the driveshaft is not moving if you are standing still, or it is moving at a ratio of what your car is moving at if you are in motion.


Anyways, basically, think of the clutch as a "grabber' whcih grabs ontop the crankshaft and is holding on for dear life. If you

a) allow it to slip by giving it too much hass while the pedal is not fully depressed
b) have your foot on it all the time so that itis never fully depressed

you will wear out the material and thus "wear out the clutch"

Basically, it sounds like you know what you are doing except when it comes to this.


Good luck and go easy on the road rage


If something I wrote was wrong, I do not authorize you all to act like dipsh!ts. Please bring the errors to my attentio nadn I will fix them.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Xiety

Originally posted by: Farbio
you have it mostly right from what i see
1 - don't have to have car in gear to start it - always a good thing to keep clutch in when starting, in case it is in gear u don't jerk and hit something
2 - when driving at any speed and not accelerating hard or deccelerating, you can simply use the gas and brake as needed for the general same speeds

you can't start a manual car without pressing the clutch pedal anyways, so he has to do it.

on most of the new ones, yes, but I drove an old Rover where it would crank whether or not the clutch was depressed

it actually ended up being a GOOD thing, since we were out in the middle of nowhere and the stupid thing breaks down. We needed to turn it around to coast downhill, and long story short there was NO way we could push the thing. So, put it in gear, crank it for a few feet, turn the steering wheel, put it in reverse, crank it for another few feet...

Man those Rovers put up with a lot of abuse.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: iloveme2

Originally posted by: Xiety

Originally posted by: Farbio
you have it mostly right from what i see
1 - don't have to have car in gear to start it - always a good thing to keep clutch in when starting, in case it is in gear u don't jerk and hit something
2 - when driving at any speed and not accelerating hard or deccelerating, you can simply use the gas and brake as needed for the general same speeds

you can't start a manual car without pressing the clutch pedal anyways, so he has to do it.

not true. my dad's 1986 300zx will start in gear. it also lurches forward about 15ft. this is why i always leave my car in neutral when i park, even though my car won't start in gear.

what the hell...I leave my car in gear and it is perfectly fine. i think your problem is that you depress the clutch imediately. IF you
\
push in the clutch pedal, Start the car, shift into neutral, and THEN depress the clutch, you are fine..in fact i have been doing that for years and so has most everyone i know, so I am 100% that it is fine as long as you knwo what yo uare doing.