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Driving a stick shift and having to reclutch at higher rpms?; Am I doing something wrong
Topic Started: Jan 19 2011, 11:50 PM (448 Views)
Cobb
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Long story short I learned to drive with an automatic. My dad isnt the worlds best driver and I am not afraid to try anything. Infact when I complained about my e250 van getting 9mpg and sold it, he and my mom had his old 240d benz serviced so it can go on the road and a recent inspection. I did not know this and on a July 3rd about 4 or 5 years ago he handed me the keys after asking if I knew how to drive a stick shift. He asked me how many miles was it to my apartment in Richmond, then said I had 43 miles to learn how to drive one. :banghead

So, :popcorn For the most part my only problem is almost stalling the car or suv on a grade. I go to release the clutch, give it so gas while keeping the rpms near idle. I have the clutch like 99% released and its almosted stalled. I do what I call reclutch it, push the clutch in and let the rpoms go up a few hundred and try it again and if the engine revs I release the clutch completely if not I reclutch again at an even higher rpm.

I guess I fell into this habit from listening to the radio loud and in many cases can only tell I am nearly stalling when hte vehicle starts to shake, see the rpms drop if it has a tach or see the battery and check engine light flicker. Ive tried giving more gas in the first place, but sometimes that results in a nice squeal or kicking up gravel.

Ill see if I can record it, but what should I try to do differently?
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Good bye


I have driven a stick shift for nearly 40 years and when the radio is up in the Metro I can still buzz the clutch or stall it. lol :)
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Horn


Well first off it just comes down to experience....actually you can slightly let off the clutch and not roll back and your car will just sit there, but you are riding the clutch.

First off get good at level ground. It just seems that you gotta learn to work the clutch and gas pedal a little better (it happens to everyone when they first drive a stick). Actually out of all the manual vehicles I've had, the 3 cyl geo is the hardest to drive. (my synchros are a bout shot though.

After you get use to level ground, find an empty backroad with a slight grade and just practice. Get use to it then find a place with a higher grade. Everyone has problems driving a stick at first. Just try to do a few different things. Try more gas, let off the clutch a little slower.

practice practice practice thats the best way to learn.
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billy508
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billy508

If the clutch releases when the petal is too high it can cause you to do what you describe. If your clutch releases about mid stoke(than doses not sound right) it makes it a little easier to drive. Just a thought. :banana :banana :banana
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

Sometimes I will have to stop on a hill. I set the e-brake (parking brake) and keep my foot on the brake. May rubber-neck to see when the cross traffic's light is yellow. I depress the clutch and as I add gas and release the clutch I also release the e-brake.

I will wind up revving the engine a bit higher, it's on an incline and may dump the clutch a little faster but the e-brake is to prevent rolling backwards.
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Horn


I just slightly let off the clutch to keep the car still, but its not the best thing for the clutch.
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