Questions about Manual Transmissions?

Question

I've just started to drive a stick. (I own a SS Supercharged Cobalt... 07' to be exact)... What are some tips so that I dont burn the clutch... Also Tips on Normal Pulling out (how-to's), and Pulling out up Hill (How to's again)...

Any Help / Advice @ all will be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

once you start moving let out on the clutch all the way.
on a hill let off the just enough to feel it start to hold before
you let off the brake

Answer 2

This seems to be an FAQ here. For several other people I have suggested that you practice. I don't like the idea of teenagers (you might not be one) that can't drive very well anyway fiddling with a distraction like this on the road. The best place to learn to pull out is in a big empty parking lot. Pull out over and over for about 30 minutes until you get good at it. Hills, same thing. Find a slope that you can practice on safely. Don't overdo it on the hill. You don't want to get the clutch hot.

You might use some clutch life in this excercise, but it's a whole lot better than rolling backwards into a new Jaguar.

The key thing that you learn is where in the pedal's travel that it actually starts to grab. Your leg needs to learn that. Then, when you pull out, you just immediately move your leg to where it starts to pull, then move both feet at once, adding gas and letting out the clutch at the same time.

Answer 3

The best tip is to be slow to release the clutch and be gentle with the throttle. In fact, on all gears from 2nd on up if you fully let the clutch out and then accelerate you will reduce wear on the clutch and disc so much that you can maybe get over 100K miles out of the parts before the clutch starts slipping.

Popping the clutch, hard acceleration, or hot rodding it will destory the clutch and lead to expensive repairs fast.

Oh, and never drive with your foot resting on the clutch....if you have a heavy foot it will not be fully out and wear very quickly.

Answer 4

Oh my god.. have you never driven a stick before?? I would NOT recommend taking your test with a manual transmission car if it is your first time. This is not something you can just wing. Also, if you stall out, I think you automatically fail your test :/ But, to answer your question.. I'm not really sure what you're asking but when you down shift, you need to, obviously, push in the clutch and downshift... but let the clutch up slowly because your car is downshifting and the engine will slow. If you are going too fast for the gear you are downshifting in, then use the brake and once you've reached a decent speed, then slowly lift up on the clutch. To be honest, I don't think you'll really need to downshift for a drivers test. I mean, how fast can you possibly go? I doubt you'll hit 3rd gear. Just remember when you come to a stop, PUSH DOWN THE CLUTCH, or you'll stall. Or put it in neutral... EDIT: just saw your detail, you don't HAVE to put it in neutral. You could put it in first if you're slowing down to a stop, but keep the clutch in and don't let it up unless you're going to start moving. Just remember, as long as you have the clutch in, you can be in whatever gear you want to be in.. it only matters when you take your foot off the clutch.

Answer 5

All of the above is good advice.

Here's a great tip for "pulling out" up hill. Use your parking brake with your thumb on the release as you work the clutch and gas, slowly let off the parking brake.

Answer 6

If you want your clutch to last as long as possible, try to drive with the clutch partially in as little as possible. That is, don't ride the clutch pedal. The clutch should be either be disconnected (no friction), or fully connected (no motion of clutch relative to pressure plate, hence no heat created by friction).

However, if you're doing burn-out launches all the time, don't expect the clutch to last a long time, regardless.

Answer 7

Never ride the clutch (using it as a footrest, stomping on it etc.), you should also take your foot off the accelerator 3 seconds before stepping on the clutch to shift, And make sure you shift at, exactly 3,000 RPM.

Answer 8

In addition to the above advice ... when you're at a stop light, put the car in neutral with the clutch disengaged.