how to drive manual

8/8/2019 How to Drive Manual

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How to Drive Manualoriginated by:Anonymous, Ben Rubenstein, Krystle, Sondra C (see all)

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Intimidating, isn't it?Have you ever wanted to learn at least the basics of how to drive amanual transmission? Luckily, the basic concepts of starting to movea manual transmission car and shifting through the gears is a processanyone can learn. This guide will help you out so that when you doget in a manual car, you won't look too bad....

editSteps

1.1Try to get on level ground. Put your seatbelt on once you get in.While learning, it's better to roll down the windows. This helps tobetter hear the engine sound and adjust the gear shifts accordingly.

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2. 2


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Identify the pedals. In a manual car, there are three.

o The one on the far left is the clutch , the middle one is the brake, andthen the gas/accelerator is on the far right.(CBA).

3. 3

Learn what the clutch does:

o The clutch disconnects the spinning engine from the spinning wheelsand allows you to switch gears without grinding the teeth of eachseparate gear.

o Before you switch gears, the clutch must be depressed.

4. 4

Adjust the seat position forward enough to allow you to pressthe clutch pedal (the left pedal, next to the brake pedal) fully tothe floor with your left foot.

5. 5Press the clutch pedal and hold it to the floor.

6. 6

Move the gear shift to neutral. This is the middle position that feels

free when moved from side to side. The vehicle is considered out ofgear when:

o the gear shift is in the neutral position, oro the clutch pedal is fully depressed.


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7.7

Start the engine with the key, making sure to keep the clutch

pedal held to the floor.

8. 8

Once the engine is started, you can remove your foot from theclutch pedal (as long as it is in neutral).

9. 9

Press the clutch to the flooragain and move the gear shift tofirst gear. It should be the upper left position, and there should besome kind of visual layout of the gear pattern on top of the gear shiftknob.

10. 10

Slowly lift your foot up from the clutch pedal until you hear theengine speed begin to drop, then push it back in. Repeat thisseveral times until you can instantly recognize the sound. This is thefriction point.

11. 11In order to get moving, lift your foot up from the clutch pedaluntil the RPMs (revs) drop slightly andapply light pressure tothe accelerator. Balance the light downward pressure on the


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accelerator with slowly releasing pressure on the clutch pedal. Youwill probably have to do this several times to find the rightcombination of pressure up and down. Another way of doing it is torelease the clutch until the moment during which the engine revsdown a little and then applying pressure on the accelerator. At thispoint the car will start to move. It is best to have the engine rev justenough to prevent stalling as the clutch pedal is let up. This processmay be a little difficult at first because you are new to the 3 pedals inmanual. Always be ready to pull the hand brake to stop in emergencytill you have learned.

o If you release the clutch too quickly the car will stall. If the enginesounds like it is going to stall, then hold the clutch where it is or evenpush it further in slightly. Excessive engine speed while the clutch isbetween fully up and fully depressed will wear out the clutch partsprematurely resulting in slippage or smoking of the clutch parts at thetransmission.

12. 12

When driving, when your RPM reaches about 3000 to 4000, it istime to shift into second gear. Remember though that it dependsfully on the car you are driving what RPM the tachometer will reachbefore you must shift. Your engine will begin to race and speed up,and you must learn to recognize this noise. Apply pressure downwardon the clutch pedal and guide the shift lever straight down from 1stgear into the bottom left position.

o Many cars have a "Shift Light" or indications on the speedometer thatwill tell you when you need to shift so you don't rev the engine toofast.

13. 13

Push down on the gas very slightly and slowly release the clutchpedal.


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14. 14

Once in gearand on the gas you should completely remove your

foot from the clutch pedal. Resting your foot on the pedal is a badhabit, and applies pressure to the clutch mechanism - the increasedpressure could allow the clutch to wear prematurely.

15. 15

When you have to stop, release right foot offaccelerator to thebrake pedal and press down as much as requiredandas youslow to about 15kph you will feel the carabout to start shakingand vibrating. Press the clutch pedal fully down and move the gearshift to neutral to prevent stalling.

16. 16

Once you have mastered manual its fun.You now can rev the

engine in any gear for a sportier feel or for a greener pace choose toshift gears at lower rpms.Ads by GoogleWMH Leadscrews & GearsRacks , Bevel Gears & Screw Jacks Linear Guides & RailsBallscrewswww.wmh-trans.co.uk

Instructions

1. Step 1Look atthe floorboard; you'll see 3 pedals. From leftto right,they are:

clutch, brake, gas.

2. Step 2Study the simple diagram on thetop ofthe gearshift, which will show

you wherethe gears are. In most new cars,this will look like a three-

legged H. First,third and fifth gears are atthetops ofthe legs; second,


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fourth and reverse gears are atthe bottoms. The crossbar ofthe H is

neutral.

3. Step 3Make suretheparking brake is engaged and the car is on a flat surface

in an area where you haveplenty of room.

4. Step 4Press down on the clutchpedal and then movethe gearshift into the

neutral position.

5. Step 5Startthe car.

6. Step 6Keeping the clutchpedal down,putthe car into first gear by moving the

gearshiftto thetop-leftposition.

7. Step 7

Apply the foot brake and releasetheparking brake.8. Step 8

Releasethe foot brake when you're ready to start moving.

9. Step 9Begin to releasethe clutchpedal slowly; when you hear or feel the

engine begin to slow down, slowlypress down on the gas pedal as you

continueto releasethe clutch. The car will startto move forward.

10.Step 10Accelerate until the carhas reached about 3,000 rpm,then take your

foot offthe gas,press down on the clutchpedal, and pull the gearshift

directly down through neutral to second gear. Be sureto pull the

gearshift down until it can't go any farther.

11.Step 11Releasethe clutchpedal gently, simultaneouslypressing down gently

on the gas pedal.

12.Step 12Repeatthe shiftingprocess eachtime you hit 3,000 rpm until you're

driving atthe appropriate speed. (Third gear is up and to the right;

fourth gear is all the way down from there; fifth gear is upto neutral,

right and then up again.)13.Step 13

Downshift by releasing the gaspedal when you wantto decrease your

speed. Press down on the clutch and movethe gearshiftthrough neutral

into the next-lower gear (move down only 1 gear at a time). Once

you're in the lower gear, releasethe clutch slowly and brake as you do

so.


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14.Step 14Stopthe car by downshifting to second gear and applying the brakes.

Apply the clutch just beforethe car stops. Don't downshift into first.

15.Step 15Drive in reverse by following the same steps you would for starting in

first gear. The reverse gearengages more quickly than first gear,

however, so be sureto releasethe clutch slowly and begin to press the

gas pedal as soon as the car begins to move.

Read more:How to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission |

eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/video_3234_drive-car-

with.html#ixzz18BSFxKzh

How to Choose Between aCar with Automatic or ManualTransmissionoriginated by:Michael Delaney, Anand Thakur, Dave Crosby, Flickety (see all)

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Here's some basics. Just like that of a manual transmission, theautomatic transmissions primary job is to allow the engine to operatein its narrow range of speeds while providing a wide range of outputspeeds. Without a transmission, cars would be limited to one gear


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ratio, and that ratio would have to be selected to allow the car totravel at the desired top speed. If you wanted a top speed of 80 mph(130 km/h elsewhere), then the gear ratio would be similar to fourthgear in most manual transmission cars. Youve probably never trieddriving a manual transmission car using only fourth gear. If you did,you would quickly find out that you had almost no acceleration whenstarting out, and at high speeds, the engine would be screamingalong near redline. A car like this would wear out very quickly andwould not be drivable.

editSteps

1.1

Consider power.Ads by GoogleWMH Leadscrews & GearsRacks , Bevel Gears & Screw Jacks Linear Guides & RailsBallscrewswww.wmh-trans.co.uk

o If you want the most power from your engine, going with a manualtransmission versus an automatic is most likely going to be your bestbet.

o While some modern automatic transmissions, i.e. CVT transmissions,manumatics, and conventional 4 or 5-speed automatic transmissionsallow for some excellent acceleration, there is still usually asubstantial difference in 0-60 times between these types ofautomatics and a 5 or 6-speed manual transmission.

o

For example, an automatic equipped Dodge Neon has a reported 0-

60 MPH time of approximately 10.5 seconds. The same Neon when equipped with a 5-speed manual has a

reported 0-60 time of 8.1 seconds; a huge difference.While most cars do not have this large of a 0-60 MPH gap betweenauto and manual transmissions, 99 percent of the time you willreceive noticeably better performance from a manual gearbox.


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o The acceleration offered from a vehicle when equipped with a manualtransmission is usually superior for a number of reasons; mostpredominantly due to gear ratios and the availability for more preciseshifting. To explain, if you own a car that receives 200 horsepower @7,000 RPM, but your automatic transmission will up-shift under fullthrottle at only 6,000 RPM, you probably will never feel the fullamount of power that your engine was made to offer. So, your enginemay be stamped with a 200 horsepower rating, but because your caris equipped with an automatic that up-shifts too soon, you may bemissing up to 20% of available power. On the other side, with mostmanual transmissions, you can usually take the engine revs to redline(or past). This enables you to get the most power possible to thefront, rear, or all 4 wheels under full throttle take-offs.

o If you want a car for power, but someone who uses it for everyday

driving also uses it, consider a semi automatic transmission. Thesetransmissions are called diffrent names from one manufacturer toanother. Usually, they're found on the sport models. Basiclly, they area automatic transmission with the option to go manual. If you go intomanual mode, it won't be the common shifter with 5 options, and youshift up, down, left, right, and that, but one with a + on the top and a -on the bottom. You push the shifter towards the + mark to shift up,and pull towards the - mark to downshift.

2. 2Determine if fuel economy is an issue.

o If you answered yes, then going with a manual transmission isprobably going to be your best bet, although it is far from your onlychoice.

o Many newer cars with automatics have an EPA rating of only 1 or 2MPG less than the same model car equipped with the manual.

With everything in life, there are exceptions to this rule. Somevehicles get better mileage (5 mpg or more) as an automaticcompared to the manual, most notably in Toyota's like RAV4, and theFJ Cruiser.

o If this is the case, most people are not going to save a significantamount of money on fuel costs going with the 5-speed manual(especially if you do a lot of city driving).


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o Since the majority of drivers do not manually shift for economy (orknow how to), the 1 or 2 MPG that is lost with the automatic caneasily be gained.

3. 3Thinkabout maintenance/repair costs.

o Even though the automotive world has come extremely far withrefining automatic transmissions, most automatic transmissions stillneed to be serviced far more often than manual transmissions (someauto manufacturers state that their manual transmissions never haveto be serviced with fluid changes, etc.

o Manual transmissions are also usually slightly/much cheaper to fixwhen something mechanical goes haywire. This is not always thecase, but on average, a manual transmission will cost you less torepair than an automatic in the same type of vehicle.

o The clutch disc in manual transmissions does need to be replaced onoccasion. There are many factors that determine how long a clutchwill last such as driving style, the material the clutch disc is made of,and the amount of city vs. highway driving. Clutch replacement isoften a labor intensive task and can cost several hundred dollars ifperformed at a repair shop.

4. 4

Identify your Needs:

o The engine that your car is equipped with makes a huge difference towhich type of transmission should be chosen. To explain, if you arelooking to buy a car with a 1.5 liter 4-cylinder that pumps out 62

horsepower, and 75 lb-ft of torque you will most likely want/need togo with a manual transmission. Since power in this case is extremelylimited, you will need to make the most out of your engine for hillclimbing, passing power, etc.

o On the other hand, if you're looking to purchase a car with a V8 or V6that offers plenty of power at both high and low revs, then going witha manual transmission is more of a preference than a necessity.


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While most drivers will still benefit in acceleration and fuel economyby going with a manual, it is not as detrimental as it would be with acar that was limited on power.

5. 5Decide if you are willing to own a vehicle with a manualtransmission. Some people can't own a vehicle with a manualtransmission for many reasons. They might be unwilling to learn touse one. They might have a physical handicap. They might need toshare the car with someone who doesn't know how to operate amanual. If this is the case then search for an automatic that combinesboth good shift patterns, and good fuel economy.

o If you are willing to drive a manual transmission, there are a fewfeatures to look for. Manual transmissions all have their own uniqueshifting characteristics. Many are geared for fuel economy, others aregeared for sport driving, and then there are many that offer the bestof both worlds.

o If you prefer to have your right hand available at all times to multitaskthen you will definitely prefer an automatic transmission.

6. 6

Check that are you a multitasker. Are you a multitasker that can doseveral things at once for a extended period? If you answered yes,then you qualify for a manual. If you answered no, then you do not.Manuals need you to concentrate on keeping your car on track,shifting the gears on time, and road hazards.

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editTipsy Manual Transmission vehicles are less expensive than automatics.

Usually by $1000 or more.

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y If you want the quickest possible acceleration go with a manualtransmission.

y If a manual is out of the question, first check out the reported engineRPM where the car in question achieves its peak horsepower, suchas an online website.

y Be aware of other transmission choice(s). Some manufacturers suchas BMW or VW offer semi-auto (or semi-manual per se) transmission.Each manufacturer have a different name for this type of transmission(SMG for BMW, DSG for VW) but they all operate in a similarmanner. They are essentially manual transmissions with specialelectronics/hydraulic system that engage and disengage the clutchfor you. This lets you drive the car like an automatic. Or you can shiftgears manually if you choose to do so. Since the clutch is controlledby the car itself, there's no clutch pedal and it still has all theperformance advantages of manual transmission described abovebut may still not be as reliable, due to the complex operatingmechanisms.

y An automobile with a competent automatic transmission should holdgears to suit your right foot, that includes holding gears till the car'sengine hits peak horsepower (or at least close) if the driver is soinclined.

y Check the EPA ratings (city and highway) of the car in question withboth transmissions. EPA ratings are not always accurate, but they dogive you a good idea on what type of fuel economy you will receive.

y Test drive the car as many times as you need to make sure you arein the right vehicle.y For a driver unfamiliar with a manual transmission, automatics are

safer as they allow you to concentrate on hazards. A manualtransmission requires significantly more attention to drive initially, but,with experience, operating the whole car, transmission included, willbecome as natural as walking.


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y Automatics put less strain on engine and drivetrain components thanan improperly-driven manual and maintenance costs over the life ofthe car may well be less.

y Overall: Manual cars are better for speed, Automatic for simplicity

editWarningsy If you are shopping for a new vehicle, some models that may have

offered both transmissions in a previous edition may offer only themanual or only automatic.

y During the test drive, if the automatic transmission up-shifts with thepedal to the metal more than 1000 RPM before peak power isreached, it is suggested you look for another car.

y Take extra care when driving a car with a transmission you are not

familiar with.y In some countries (e.g. the United Kingdom), your license will not

entitle you to drive with manual

how to drive manual

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