Hey, i just got my tc tonite, and this is only the third time i drove stick, but i was just wondering, how bad is it for my car if im not a good shifter? i stalled it about 3 times in like 40 minutes of driving, and if i do get it going, its really bad, like major wiplash, and lastly, for manuals, wen i shift to like 2nd and 3rd do i give alittle gas right before i fully release the clutch, thx for the help

 

stalling your car is not as bad is over reving in the wrong gear. if i were you, i'd go to an empty parking lot and pratice shifting. it should be as smooth as possible. as for the whiplash, don't step on the gas too hard, do it nice and easy.

 

find an old , lightweight , low powered 80s pos car to practice on. i hate people who risk their new cars. do it if ya must but be careful and slowly let off the clutch while u slowly give it a bit of gas. the gas and clutch should move at the same speed but in opposite directions. get what i mean? take care and good luck

 

hey guys thanks for the replies, yeah i wish i had a crappier car to practice on by i gotta do it on my baby!!! bah i hate it so much, the worst feeling, is wen im approaching a stop sign at like 10 mph and i forgot i dont have the clutch in and i try to put it in first and it grinds like hell, i almost cried, ive dont it twice, good thing i got the 7 year warranty package thing for the tranny thx again

 

You should wait and come to a full stop before shifting into 1st. If your slowing down and crawling keep it in 2nd gear.

Just for emergency....

Push starting a car (if you don't know how).
step 1 Put the car in 2nd or reverse
step 2 Press clutch in
step 3 Have someone push (forward for 2nd) (push backwards in reverse)
step 4 Release the clutch

This is called a racing push start. When the car starts and your in 2nd or reverse gear, it won't move after starting, but the engine is running. Its a lot safer for the people pushing because it won't suddenly stop. Some people use the clutch and gas, with it in 1st gear <--- very dangerous.

If your clutch cable breaks... put in in 2nd gear, don't step on the clutch and turn the ignition. You can drive the car like it was an automatic, but not very fast... enough to limp it home. The car will die if you come to a full stop.

Again just in emergency...

After more seat time.... you won't even notice your shifting the car. It becomes natural. Have fun!


SSM 05 Corolla XRS
s2k antenna

 

oneph thx for all those tips man, what do people actually mean when they say like a blown tranny? how does that happen? and to my original question, how bad is it for my car rite now?

thx for all the newb help!

 

What modern car has a clutch cable? Manufacturers stopped putting cable clutches in cars a long time ago. All clutches are hydraulic now.

 

Not on Neons

 

Eeew

 

or your dads year 2000 dodge dakota 5spd ;) thats where i leanred

 

Because when someone loves to drive manuals. You'll learn to love old cars as well. Its something handy to know. I also visit my home country in South Eas Asia and not every country is up to date with modern cars or have tow trucks.

I don't post much here, but go to NC4, VVTI or 9thgen if you need more hints in driving a manual. You'll see me there posting more often.




SSM 05 Corolla XRS

 

What are you thinking? Seriously..... won't be a new car for long. If it's your "baby" you really need to treat it like one, unless your dealer said that was the appropriate way to "break in" your car.

Why would you buy a ride you couldn't drive? Destroying a scarce 5speed some people have been waiting for....and THEY know how it works. I'm sorry, it's just a little weird.

 

Well MesSCiah, he paid for it just like anyone else, he has the right to do whatever he wishes with it.

 

Well Rivulent, you are right...... but I guess it will be inevitable that in the near future there will be another useless, space-wasting thread full of questions on "How to rebuild a Scion?" or maybe even "How much can I get for my #$%^! piece of $hit?"

 

My old 1990 Pontic LeMons had clutch cable broke one time, and I had to drive to the mechanic's with the 2nd gear start methods, haa

 

Just a few tips: For first gear, don't ride the clutch or you'll ruin it. Believe me cause I did it to my eclipse. I tap the gas lightly 3 times as I let of the clutch. You just have to give it a lil bit- too much=riding clutch! As for shifting, it's smoother when you don't floor the clutch. Just take it down like 3/4 of the way. As an FYI....when you push in the clutch, the RPMs drop, so the goal is to shift and let of the clutch before they drop significantly, otherwise you get the jerk. It takes practice and you will probably continue to stall until you get it down perfect. Just feel for it and don't think to hard about it cause that usually makes you shift worse!

Good luck!

 

sorry mesciah i didnt know buying this car did so much pain to u, but for all of you that are helping i appreciate it, i actually just drove for about 20 minutes, only 1 stall and that was comming into my driveway and after puttin on the parkiing brakes i accdently let off the clutch, thx lvnurs for the info, but one thing, how much is riding the clutch? like is 2000 rpms to much cause ive been letting off my clutch real slow and i think i might burn it, thx for all the help, and not b****ing at me

 

I did the same thing when I bought my tc. I'd never really driven stick before. I'd practiced a few times on my mom's eclipse and once on a friend's jeep wrangler. So when I bought my tc I was still real rough with it. It really helped when my boyfriend took me out to an empty parking lot. I had a really bad habit of stalling out. So he made me drive around in circles for a few hours just starting and stopping and getting used to the friction point on the clutch. (The friction point is the point where the rpm's drop and the car starts to move on it's own if you just let out the clutch). So, anyway, I got really used to it in about a week. I've had my Tc for about a month now and I had a friend the other day say that I shift like a pro and shift MUCH smoother than when I first started out. Trust me.... you'll figure things out on your own really quick if you do it right once and remember what you did each time.

 

First off, I would like to welcome you to the forums.

Second, I have read 3 out of your 10 posts and all 3 were you complaining. If you don't like something or want to complain, there are other places to do that besides our forum. We are hear to help if we can not just rant at someone who bought a car that they wanted and is learning how to drive it. From now on, please try and be more helpful in your posting. Thanks. /rant

Ok, now back to our scheduled posting. ;)

 

The tC is the first 5 spd car I've had and I stalled it many times when I first got the car... I haven't stalled in a long time now but I still suck at takeoffs a little bit. It's not gonna mess up your transmission, if anything you'll probably need a new clutch a lot sooner than someone who is more experienced with stick shift. It's like riding a bike... once you get it, it's second nature.