How to Drive Manual ?

Edited byBen Rubenstein

Have you ever wanted to learn at least the basics of how to drive a manual transmission? Luckily, the basic concepts of starting to move a manual transmission car and shifting through the gears is a process anyone can learn. This guide will help you out so that when you do get in a manual car, you won't look too bad....

Steps

1. 1
   Try 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 to better hear the engine sound and adjust the gear shifts accordingly.
   
   
   
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2. 2
   Identify the pedals. In a manual car, there are three.
   
   
   
   • The one on the far left is the clutch , the middle one is the brake, and then the gas/accelerator is on the far right.(CBA). This layout is the same for both left hand drive and right hand drive vehicles.
3. 3
   Learn what the clutch does:
   
   
   
   • The clutch disengages the spinning engine from the spinning wheels and allows you to switch gears without grinding the teeth of each separate gear.
   • Before you switch gears, the clutch must be depressed.
4. 4
   Adjust the seat position forward enough to allow you to press the clutch pedal (the left pedal, next to the brake pedal) fully to the floor with your left foot.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Press the clutch pedal and hold it to the floor. This would also be a good time to take note of how the travel of the clutch pedal differs from that of the brake and gas, and it is a good idea to get used to slowly and steadily releasing the clutch pedal.
   
   
   
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 of gear when:
   
   
   
   • the gear shift is in the neutral position, or
   • the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
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 the clutch pedal (as long as it is in neutral).
   
   
   
9. 9
   Press the clutch to the floor again and move the gear shift to first gear. It should be the upper left position, and there should be some kind of visual layout of the gear pattern on top of the gear shift knob.
   
   
   
10. 10
    Slowly lift your foot up from the clutch pedal until you hear the engine speed begin to drop, then push it back in. Repeat this several times until you can instantly recognize the sound. This is the friction point.
    
    
    
11. 11
    In order to get moving, lift your foot up from the clutch pedal until the RPMs (revs) drop slightly and apply light pressure to the accelerator. Balance the light downward pressure on the accelerator with slowly releasing pressure on the clutch pedal. You will probably have to do this several times to find the right combination of pressure up and down. Another way of doing it is to release the clutch until the moment during which the engine revs down a little and then applying pressure on the accelerator. At this point the car will start to move. It is best to have the engine rev just enough to prevent stalling as the clutch pedal is let up. This process may be a little difficult at first because you are new to the 3 pedals in manual. Always be ready to pull the hand brake to stop in emergency till you have learned.
    
    
    
    • If you release the clutch too quickly the car will stall. If the engine sounds like it is going to stall, then hold the clutch where it is or even push it further in slightly. Excessive engine speed while the clutch is between fully up and fully depressed will wear out the clutch parts prematurely resulting in slippage or smoking of the clutch parts at the transmission.
12. 12
    When driving, when your RPM reaches about 3000 to 4000, it is time to shift into second gear. Remember though that it depends fully on the car you are driving what RPM the tachometer will reach before you must shift. Your engine will begin to race and speed up, and you must learn to recognize this noise. Apply pressure downward on the clutch pedal and guide the shift lever straight down from 1st gear into the bottom left position.
    
    
    
    • Some cars have a "Shift Light" or indications on the speedometer that will tell you when you need to shift so you don't rev the engine too fast.
13. 13
    Push down on the gas very slightly and slowly release the clutch pedal.
    
    
    
14. 14
    Once in gear and on the gas you should completely remove your foot from the clutch pedal. Resting your foot on the pedal is a bad habit, and applies pressure to the clutch mechanism — the increased pressure could allow the clutch to wear prematurely.
    
    
    
15. 15
    When you have to stop, release right foot off accelerator to the brake pedal and press down as much as required and as you slow to about 15 kph (10 mph) you will feel the car about to start shaking and vibrating. Press the clutch pedal fully down and move the gear shift to neutral to prevent stalling.
    
    
    
16. 16
    Once you have mastered it, driving a manual is fun. You now can rev the engine in any gear for a sportier feel or for a greener pace choose to shift gears at lower rpms.
    
    
    
    Tips

• Before beginning to shift gears make sure you know the gear arrangement. Many times this is posted on the top of the shifter. Generally from the center, 1st is up and left, 2nd down and left, 3rd up center, 4th down center and 5th up right. If your car has a 6th gear it will be down and right. Reverse will either be where 6th gear would be in a 5-speed or to the far left or right, depending on the vehicle. Many European vehicles with a manual transmission, however, will have reverse up and left, with the subsequent gears following in respective positions that are one gear behind that of Japanese or American vehicles. This is especially true on Volvos and Volkswagens.
• If there is no gear position posted on the shifter, make sure to ask someone who is familiar with the vehicle how the gears are arranged. The last thing you want is to back into something (or someone) when you think you've shifted into first gear.
• Make sure you push the clutch all the way in before shifting to the next gear.
• If your car seems like it is going to stall or the engine is sputtering, then push in the clutch again and wait for the engine to return to idle and repeat the steps to starting off.
• During sub freezing temperatures, it is not advisable to leave a car for a longer time with a handbrake (parking brake) pulled on. Moisture will freeze making the release of the parking brake impossible. You may want to apply 1st gear when the car is parked on a flat surface. Don't forget to use the handbrake when you press the clutch, otherwise the car will start to move.
• If you have a passenger and you know ahead of time that you will be parking on a sharp incline, carry a brick or rock in your car to be placed behind your wheel (carefully). It is not a bad idea to do this all the time; parking brakes, like all parts of the car, become worn with age and may not be able to keep your vehicle in place if a hill is too steep.
• Learn to recognize the sounds of your engine; you should eventually be able to tell when to change gears without relying on the tachometer.
• Two other descriptions mean the same thing as "manual transmission"--"stick shift" and "standard."
• If you are having difficulty starting the car from a stop, make sure that you are slowly letting off the clutch. Pause at the friction point (the part where the engine starts to move the car) and continue slowly pulling the clutch out.

Warnings

• Stop completely before shifting into reverse no matter which direction the car is rolling. Shifting into reverse while the car is in motion will (obviously) damage most manual transmissions.
• It is strongly recommended to stop completely before going from reverse to another gear. However it is possible on most manual transmissions to shift into first or possibly second when the car is moving backwards at a slow speed, but this is not recommended as this can cause excessive wear on the clutch.
• Keep an eye on the tachometer until you are comfortable with a manual. A manual transmission requires much more responsibility than an automatic. Over rev the engine, and severe damage to the engine may result.
• Try to watch if you are on a hill or a steep area. You can roll down and hit the person or object behind you if you are not holding in the brake and clutch.

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