Driving a Stick Shift?

Question

I recently started learning to drive a stick shift and my first time I kept stalling after a complete stop. Does anyone have any tips on getting started after a stop that will help me with my stall problem?

Answer 1

Hello,

when driving on a manual car, it's obvious, that you can't just stop in a gear completely, because this way you are stopping the engine, too. After braking your car to a slow speed e.g. 15 MPH, just press and hold down the clutch to disconnect the engine from the powertrain. When you stop for a longer period (more than a couple of seconds), just shift to neutral and you can release the clutch. Don't stand on the clutch for a long time, because you wear out the clutch release bearing.

Starting in flat terrain: you are standing still in neutral, on the brakes. Push the clutch, get off from the brakes, shift to first and while gradually releasing the clutch pedal, push the accelerator a bit, it doesn't have to be much. As you release the clutch, you will reach a point where your car starts to move. Hold the clutch at this point for a moment and give a little bit more gas, and gradually step off the clutch while pressing the acceletor down.
The two pedals move the same rythm but in the opposite direction.
After a couple of attempts, you will learn where this point in your clutch is, and afterwards you can faster release the clutch to the known point.
(others suggested that you should not press the accelerator before you reach the clutch's grip point Doing this, especially on a powerful cars, can cause the car to jump and shoot out, because the transition from idle speed to part-throttle state is not gradual -> giving a a little bit of gas pedal indicates to the engine's ECU that we are no longer idling). With weak cars (or worn clutches), starting without revving a bit, can cause a stall.

Starting uphill: you do it like others said, with the handbrake. Personally I never use a handbrake and never roll backwards, becuase I don't release the brake pedal at once. I keep pushing the brake while releasing the clutch. There will be the grip point, where the engine starts to work against the brakes. at this point I slowly release the brake pedal while maintainig the grip point on the clutch. (This way the car is standing still uphill, the engine runs because the clutch transfers enough power to compensate the elevation but permits a slip so the engine won't stall.) After releasing the brakes I step on the gaspedal and roll out. This method requires some practice as you do it near engine stall. But when you do something you want to be good in it, do you ? :D

(tip: try out if you can handle all three pedals the same time. One of my cars has such a pedal layout and it's very handy in the winter time or starting uphill. I can press the brakes with my heel and I can gradually place my foot on the gas pedal.)

Regards

Answer 2

Give it gas, that is the biggest problem most people make. Don't listen to the engine, look at the tach, keep it at around 3000. As you let off the clutch apply more gas to maintain that rpm.

Another tip.
If you have a hand brake use it when you are stopped on an uphill incline. It will keep you from rolling back when you start off. Just simply apply the hand brake when you stop, then when the light turns green slowly release the hand brake as you apply the gas and engage the clutch.

Answer 3

I don't know if I do it right, but when I drive a stick, I keep both the brake pedal and the clutch in when stopping and my car doesn't stall. If it stalls while you are starting to accelerate, you probably need to keep the clutch down longer & release more gradually while you step on the gas more gradually but firmly.

Answer 4

Older People Learned On Stick Shift., More Than Likely....!!

Answer 5

You're supposed to either press the clutch or shift to neutral when stopping so your car won't stall (its better to use neutral). When starting, you should press the clutch no more than halfway and slowly press the accelerator. As soon as you press the accelerator, slowly release the clutch to prevent overreving and burnout.

Answer 6

The trick is not to start to accelerate until after you've gently moved the clutch upto the stage where you can feel it start to "bite" and the car moves.

So, don't press the accelerator any further until after you've felt the tiny surge forward - then you can ease up the rest of the way and press on the accelerator together.

That said - there's no substitute for practice.

Answer 7

real way: without having foot on the brake or pedal, easy the clutch up you'll start to feel the car engauge and shake a little it will start inching foreward a tad then slowly press the gas down.

or

the easy way: avoid stoping entirely ansd keep it in second all the time.

Answer 8

Just EASE up with the clutch and give a bit more gas, you'll feel the car start to move , and you can let the clutch up more as you gain more speed , then you can let it all the way up.

Answer 9

use a little more gas peddle and very slowly let out on the clutch, you will soon master this and be zooming around town :-)

Answer 10

Practice. Practice. Practice. More gas and less clutch.