How to Drive a Manual Transmission

Try to drive on a flat road. Remember to fasten your seat belt. While studying, it is better to pull down the window. It helps you hear the engine sound more clearly and adjust the gear accordingly.

• Located on the far left is the clutch, in the middle is the brake and accelerator on the far right (CBA). This layout is similar to cars with a left steering wheel and cars with a right steering wheel.

Learn the duties of the clutch/clutch:

• The clutch is released to transmit power from the spinning engine to the spinning wheels and allows you to shift gears without sharpening the clutches of each gear individually.
• Before you shift gears (up or down), the clutch must be pressed.

Adjust the steering wheel seat position forward enough to allow you to press the clutch foot (left clutch, next to the brake pedal) to the floor with your left foot.

Press the clutch foot and keep it close to the floor. This is a good time to notice how the clutch pedal moves differently from the brake and accelerator, and it’s best to get used to how to release the clutch quickly and slowly.

Move the gear lever to the center position. This is the position where the gear lever can be free to move from side to side. The vehicle is considered out of gear when:

• gear lever in the center position, “or”
• the clutch is fully pressed down

Start the car with the key, making sure to keep the clutch foot on the floor.

When the engine starts, you can release your foot from the clutch (as long as the gear lever is in the center position).

Depress the clutch pedal to the floor again and shift the shift lever to first gear. The first number is in the upper left position and notice the visual diagram of the numbers on the top of the gear lever.

Slowly lift your foot off the clutch pedal until you hear the engine start to slow down, then push it back. Repeat this process a few times until you can immediately recognize the sound. This is the point of friction.

To run, lift your foot off the clutch pedal until the revs drop slowly and gently press the accelerator. Gently press the accelerator and release the clutch. You will have to do this a few times to find the right combination of up and down pressure. Another way is to release the clutch until the number of engine revolutions decreases a bit, then press the accelerator when the clutch pedal engages. At this point the car will start running. It is best to only give enough engine revolutions to avoid stopping when the clutch foot is removed. This process can be a little difficult at first because you are not familiar with the 3 types of pedals. Always be ready to pull the brake pedal to stop in an emergency until you learn how to drive.

• If you release the clutch pedal too quickly, the vehicle will stop. If the engine sounds like it’s about to stop, keep the clutch in place or push it down a bit more. Vehicle speeding while the clutch is in the center position will cause parts of the clutch to wear out, leading to parts slipping or smoking during transmission.

When driving revs reach around 2500 to 3000, it’s time to shift into second gear. Bear in mind that this is entirely dependent on the vehicle you are driving how far the tachometer will reach before you shift gears. Your engine will start to run at high speed and accelerate, and you must learn to recognize this sound. Depress the clutch and shift the gear lever straight down from the 1st position to the bottom left position.

• Some cars have a “Shift Light” or an indicator on the tachometer that will show you when you need to shift so you don’t accelerate the revs too quickly.

Gently press the brake pedal and gently release the clutch.

When the car is in gear and is on the accelerator, you should release your foot from the clutch. Resting your foot on the clutch is a bad habit, pressing the clutch will put pressure on the clutch mechanism – so increasing pressure will cause the clutch to wear out prematurely.

When you come to a stop, release your right foot from the accelerator and press the brake pedal down to about 15km/h you will feel the car start to shake. Fully press the clutch pedal down, move the gear lever to the center position to prevent the car from shutting down.