Manual tranny help.

[edhchoe]

BTW, I have had this manual tranny car for one day. When I shift from 1st to 2nd, or 2nd to 3rd, how can I be more smooth? My passanger lurches forward as I press on the clutch because the car loses acceleration momentarily then when I am in the next gear the car accelerates and the passanger gets pushed to the back.:D
Also, I find that when starting from a stop, I have to shift from 1st to 2nd in the middle of the intersection. Is that what everyone does? The RPM goes above 3500 in the first gear in the middle of the intersection...:eyecrazy

[WRXtoM3]

Im new to the forum but I think the theory holds true for all manual vehicles,

If you are just cruising doing like 35-40, and you give it full throttle does the rpm's go up and you dont really accellerate? If so sounds like a slipping clutch.

[mbanks21]

Maybe you suck at driving?

[wayOffMeBoyeee]

If I were you, I would just spend some time driving around and thining about tryint to be smooth

[Chad H]

yea, don't be scared to leave the clutch in at first. Not too hard.

And i normally shift in the middle of intersections, it's not too odd.

I have taught 3 or 4 to drive manuals in parking lots and such, and i just tell them to get RPMS to 3000, and slowly let go of the clutch.

[bdm23]

maybe ease of the gas before you hit the clutch? idk

[EaglEye]

You'll figure it out.

It's like a lot of things, it just takes practice. Make sure you're not practicing bad habits, but you'll necessarily figure out most of the finer points of driving a manual simply through practice and experimentation. Driving a manual requires 10% theory(knowing how the clutch/flywheel/tranny fuction and work together) and 90% feel, IMO.

For now, just drive. It'll come naturally, so long as you don't make anything a habit that is fundamentally wrong.

[digitaldragon03]

I got my car 2 weeks ago, and 1-2 is still kinda jerky for me.

[jdturbocharging]

practice, and don't be afraid to slip a stock clutch a little, that's what they are designed to do. a pucked clutch is a little harder to get smooth at

[EThirD]

I got my car 2 weeks ago, and 1-2 is still kinda jerky for me.

It will take a while to get smooth. The difference in ratios is much more severe from 1-2 when compared to any other shift, so it takes a lot more finesse to shift smoothly.

[mbanks21]

I learned to drive stick on the way home from the dealership where I bought my 99 M3 vert about 5 years ago.

[BenMGP]

:alrighthere's a cookie!

[wayOffMeBoyeee]

Hey when you are driving, kinda like I said earlier, just try and be calm and thinking about good things. Also, when you are moving around in intersection, just don't change gears untill needed.

[digitaldragon03]

Ive tried a new method recently, which is adding a little gas right before fully releasing the clutch. It helps alot if you time it just right. Im not sure if this is the correct method, but hey, i practically learned on my own.

[MPower7]

and i just tell them to get RPMS to 3000, and slowly let go of the clutch.
I think 1.5 to 2k rmps is sufficient. If you are learning maybe 2.5k.

[edhchoe]

I got the hang of it after driving it home.(4 hour trip).
This morning I installed a home-made clutch stop and I can see how it will help me get even smoother in shifting. cost of the clutch stop = $4.09