New to Manual Transmission

[barrett]

I am re-learning to drive with a standard. I learnt standard 10 years ago and never driven ever since. I finally got my license, beginning December 2012 with an automatic.

My husband and I bought an Elantra GT standard 2 months ago and I have been practicing everyday for at least half an hour. I am making a progress but my anxiety often gets the best of me. I went on not too busy road and stalled few times at the traffic lights.

Luckily, this Elantra tells me when to shift so I am not too concerned about that. The hardest part is to get going from a stop. I am also not paying too much attention to the rpm since Elantra tells me when to shift.

I just spent some time in the parking garage pressing the clutch for 100 times. My knee is pretty sore. Since it's a holiday, I will be going to IKEA and practice there.

I google and youtube a lot on this. I am also taking a lesson sometime in January/February. In the meantime, any other suggestions?

Thanks.

[sbr711]

Practice walking away from stop in first without touching gas pedal..

NOTE--> Reving eninge and slowly letting off clutch pedal will lead to premautre clutch disc friction material wear.. practice above walking away, then we'll let you play with gas pedal to aid in take off from light and go.

[barrett]

I did that, walking away from stop without touching gas pedal.. so now I'm in walking away with the gas pedal.. should I go back to the without then?

[markjenn]

It's something that comes very quickly with practice. If you drive regularly, you'll be a pro in a week or two.

I would ignore the stupid shift light for now. Shift by feel - do what makes the engine seem happiest and which makes the car responsive enough for the traffic situation you find yourself in. The car will tell you when you're revving too much or lugging. And diverting your attention to the shift light just adds to your workload and tends to take your away from what you want to be concentrating on - the road.

Most novices tend to clutch in way too often - like every time the brake or for every corner. Basically the clutch is for starting off, right before you stop, and shifting. If you're not doing any of these things, the clutch should be out/engaged. And after you've come to a stop, don't hold the clutch down for an extended period. If you're going to be stopped for more than an instant, put the transmission in neutral.

Once you're comfortable, find a grade with no traffic and practice starting off on a hill using the hand brake. It takes a little practice to do it smoothly and much better to practice with no traffic rather than doing this the first time with someone on your rear bumper.

Have fun!

- Mark

[Eamon_Burke]

I don't ever start moving without the gas pedal anymore--perhaps I'm just impatient. But I do often do it to check where the clutch catches when I'm driving a different car.

The same thing I told my wife when I taught her to drive:
1. The clutch pedal ALWAYS goes ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. Every. Time.
2. If it chokes up and dies on you, it was probably from being timid with the accelerator, not overzealous with the clutch.
3. Don't "ride the clutch": holding down the clutch and the brake. Its for putting the car in and out of gear only.

Doing these three things will keep you from excessive wear during the learning curve. You'll get it quick if you aren't too timid with yourself.

Take it to a parking lot and try to get it to burn out. You won't hurt anything, it'll be harder than you expect, and you will get a good feel for the whole shebang.

And congratulations!

[barrett]

Wow, thank you guys!! These really help..

Most novices tend to clutch in way too often. Yeap! I am starting to relax though, my brain keeps telling me to only do it when changing gears and right before I stop.

Right now my husband is telling me when to shift, and I insist to comply with the shift light.. So far I have only driven up to third gear and I downshift to 2nd gear when it hits 20.

With the hill I am okay, I use the foot brake instead of the hand brake.

And yeah I am learning with my husband who is also impatient and keep telling me to use the gas pedal. And I guess I am overly timid with the accelerator, because I am scared to go over and rev it up.

I still kind of riding the clutch when going down from second to first gear to stop. I just feel there's not enough time to completely let it out. Although I am starting to lift my foot a bit from changing to second and push it all the way in again to change to first gear just before stopping.

[markjenn]

If you know you're coming to a stop, there is little reason to downshift through the gears. Just leave it in the high gear until the revs get near idle, then clutch-in as you come to a complete stop. Downshifting through gears will save a tiny bit of wear on your brakes, but add a lot of wear on your clutch; brakes are much, much cheaper to replace.

- Mark

[gazza!!!]

When learning bring the revs up to 2000rpm then gently release the clutch, this will do the trick, a pal of mine who taught driving in the UK always advised this for new drivers, the majority of cars in the UK are stick change.

Gazza!!!

[barrett]

Originally Posted by markjenn

If you know you're coming to a stop, there is little reason to downshift through the gears. Just leave it in the high gear until the revs get near idle, then clutch-in as you come to a complete stop. Downshifting through gears will save a tiny bit of wear on your brakes, but add a lot of wear on your clutch; brakes are much, much cheaper to replace.

- Mark

do you mean clutch in and go to neutral?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by gazza!!!

When learning bring the revs up to 2000rpm then gently release the clutch, this will do the trick, a pal of mine who taught driving in the UK always advised this for new drivers, the majority of cars in the UK are stick change.

Gazza!!!

I am very shy with the clutch but I will try that.