MANUAL transmission experts...

[gmrulz4u]

I just recently bought a 98 Acura 1.6 EL(sold only in Canada). I still have my 89 Cutty of course, which I will have until the day I die! But I wanted a second car and went with the little 4-banger EL.

 

Anyways, I haven't driven a Standard for about 6 years. And I am doing pretty good but had a few questions that I am somewhat confused about. My girlfriend and I both drive it, and we have some things that we do differently. So here's what I want to know:

 

1) When shifting, say from 2nd to 3rd, are you supposed to push the clutch in and out as FAST as you can(clutch in, shift, clutch out), or are you supposed to still let it out slowly and smoothly, just like you do from a complete stop?

 

2) When you are, lets say, 100 feet from a red light in, lets say, 4th gear, and you know you are going to have to come to a complete stop, do you not just put the clutch all the way in, and use the brake to slowly come to a complete stop? Or is this bad because that 100 feet of clutch use was unncessary wear & tear? See, usually when I am in that situation, I put the clutch all the way in and just coast to the stop, at which point I shift back into 1st gear to get ready for the green light. I think I assume this is what you're supposed to do because, unlike an automatic, if I just use the brake, the engine will stall, right?

 

3) When at a red light, are you supposed to leave the shifter in Neutral and let off of the clutch completely? Or are you supposed to stay in 1st and leave the clutch all the way in?

 

4) When parking, do you leave it in 1st gear or Neutral? Both with the Emergency Brake ON.

 

Question 2 is the one I need to know the most, because I always do that and want to make sure it isn't a bad thing.

 

THANKS A TON!

[Canada]

1) When shifting, say from 2nd to 3rd, are you supposed to push the clutch in and out as FAST as you can(clutch in, shift, clutch out), or are you supposed to still let it out slowly and smoothly, just like you do from a complete stop?

 

You shouldn't slip the clutch, but under normal driving....you shouldn't be 'banging' the shift lever either. Just step in, shift.....lettting it fall into gear...clutch out. Matching revs for smoothness.

 

2) When you are, lets say, 100 feet from a red light in, lets say, 4th gear, and you know you are going to have to come to a complete stop, do you not just put the clutch all the way in, and use the brake to slowly come to a complete stop? Or is this bad because that 100 feet of clutch use was unncessary wear & tear? See, usually when I am in that situation, I put the clutch all the way in and just coast to the stop, at which point I shift back into 1st gear to get ready for the green light. I think I assume this is what you're supposed to do because, unlike an automatic, if I just use the brake, the engine will stall, right?

 

Legally, I don't think you are supposed be free rolling. However, *I* brake normally in whatever gear I happen to be in....and as the engine rpms are dropped down to near idle, I step the clutch in.

 

3) When at a red light, are you supposed to leave the shifter in Neutral and let off of the clutch completely? Or are you supposed to stay in 1st and leave the clutch all the way in?

 

Go to neutral and clutch out. Reason being? Well, when the clutch pedal is down, there is a bearing (called the throw out bearing) that has pressure on it and is being spun by the engine and pressure plate so it can release. Whenever the clutch is in, the bearing has a load on it....bearings fail....espessically when they have to live in the enviroment of a clutch. Staying off the clutch as much as possible increases bearing life. I also like it because the disc isn't sitting still inbetween to large metal plates spinning at 800 rpm, and it will spin the transmission, so oil is being splashed and the transmission stays warm.

 

4) When parking, do you leave it in 1st gear or Neutral? Both with the Emergency Brake ON.

 

First gear, or reverse. Look that up in the owners manual....it various from builder to builder and person to person. One thing is certain, in gear is good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When learning the finer points of 'shifter cars' I find its best to understand how the clutch and transmission work.

 

A clutch is made up of a flywheel, clutch disc, and pressure plate. The disc is attached to the input shaft of the transmission. While the flywheel and pressure plate are attached to the engine. The disc is sandwhiched inbetween the two.

 

When the clutch is applied, the pressure from pressure plate clamping the disc to the flywheel prevents it from slipping....so the engine can transfer power to the drivetrain.

 

Under release, the pressure plate actually moves back slightly, causing the disc to spin freely inbetween the pressure plate.

[MonteC]

1) doesnt really matter how fast you shift, just that you dont dump the clutch, and that you make sure you fully engauge the clutch.

 

2)either way you do it youre going to wear parts of your car. usually people downshift when they come to a stop, if your in 4th start slowing down then downshift to 3rd, letting out of the clutch slowly, that will slow you down alot, then slow and downshift to 2nd and let out of the clutch slowly, then to first if you wish or from that point just use the breaks. downshifting takes away unnessary wear off of the breaks. if you use the breaks to slow down all of the time you will be replacing brake pads often.

 

the engine wont stall if you downshift correctly while using the breaks, it might not be a good idea to keep the clutch engauged while slowing down. thats unnessary wear on your throw out bearing and pressure plate. just put the gear shift in neutral and let out of the clutch if you choose to use only your breaks to stop.

 

3)like i said in 2 try to keep the clutch disengauged if you can, its just unnessary wear on the throw out bearing and pressure plate.

 

4) personally i leave the car in 2nd gear and thats it, i dont have any hills or inclines around here. but either way works with the emergency break on.

[digitaloutsider]

I've gotten in a habit of shifting down to slow the car (i.e around 25-30 MPH, i shift to second and let it slow the car down, then apply the brakes as normal). Is this in any way hurting the transmission or clutch?

[Canada]

You are using the clutch and transmission more.......more wear on the syncrho as it has to match speeds of the shaft....and more wear on the clutch as it has to match speeds as well.

 

Here is the way I look at it......which was designed to do what? Brakes stop the car, the clutch turns the power on and off, and the transmission accelerates you. If thats not good enough.......whats cheaper and easier to replace? Clutch or brake pads?

[digitaloutsider]

Okay okay okay! I'll stop!

[MonteC]

damnit canada, im trying to use my knowledge i learned at tech this semester. i paid good money for that shit!

[Canada]

Hahahahha.....I spent two years in school.....I got my money's worth.

[MonteC]

same here, i love these autotech classes.

[Canada]

Are those class for your 'jerb'? Or just for the fun of it?

[GP1138]

Dammit, Canada! Questions I can actually answer with my Automotive class training, and you come along and snatch it up!!

[slick]

1) I always pushed the clutch in, shift the gear nice and smoothly, then let the clutch back out. This, of course, is for normal driving. No need to bang through the gears.

 

2) I let the idle come down pretty good ways, then depress the clutch pedal, and brake in the rest of the way.

 

3) At a light, i'll let up on the clutch enough that it will not roll backward or forward. Basically, just enough to grab.

 

4) I usually always put them in neutral. But, thats on a flat surface. Now, if i'm parked on an incline, thats a different story.