7/14/2017 How to Drive Manual (with Pictures) - wikiHow

How to Drive Manual Reader

Four Parts: Starting the Car Moving Forward in First Gear Shifting in Motion and Stopping Practicing and Troubleshooting

If you're a learner driver or have only ever driven automatic cars, the idea of driving a manual transmission may seem
daunting at first. Luckily, learning the basic concepts of starting and shifting through the gears is a manageable process for
just about anyone. To drive a manual, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the clutch, become comfortable with the gearstick,
and practice starting, stopping, and shifting gears at various driving speeds. The only way to truly learn to drive a manual car;
is to get plenty of experience though, so be sure to put what you read into action on the roads.

Part
Starting the Car
1

1 Start on level ground with the car off. Especially if this is your first time driving a car with a manual
transmission, start slowly and methodically. Put your seat belt on once you sit down. While learning, it can be
useful to roll down the windows. This helps you hear the sound of the engine revving and to shift gears accordingly.[1]
The pedal on the left is the clutch, the middle one is the brake, and the accelerator is on the right (remember it,
from left to right, as C-B-A). This layout is the same for both left-hand drive and right-hand drive vehicles.

2 Learn what the clutch does. Before you start pushing down on this unfamiliar pedal on the left, take a moment to
figure out the basics of it's function.[2]
The clutch disengages the engine from the wheels. When one or both are spinning, the clutch allows you to
switch gears without grinding the teeth of each separate gear.
Before you change gears (either to move up or down), the clutch must be depressed (pushed).

3 Adjust the seat position so you can access the clutch pedals full range of motion. Slide forward enough to
allow you to press the clutch pedal (the left pedal, next to the brake pedal) fully to the floor with your left foot.[3]

4 Press the clutch pedal and hold it to the floor. This would also be a good time to take note of how the travel of
the clutch pedal differs from that of the brake and gas. Its also a good opportunity to get used to slowly and
steadily releasing the clutch pedal.[4]
If youve only ever driven automatic cars, it might feel awkward to use your left foot to push a pedal. With
practice, youll get used to using both feet in concert.

5 Move the gearstick into neutral. This is the middle position that feels free when moved from side to side. The
vehicle is considered out of gear when:[5]
The gearstick is in the neutral position, and/or
The clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Dont try to use the gearstick without having the clutch pedal depressed, because it simply won't work.

6 Start the engine with the key in the ignition, making sure the gear stick is still in neutral. Make sure the
handbrake is on before starting the car, especially if you are a novice.[6]
Some cars will start up in neutral without the clutch depressed, but some newer cars will not.

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Remove your foot from the clutch pedal with the car still in neutral. If youre on level ground, you should remain
stationary; youll start rolling if youre on a hill. If youre ready to move on to actually driving, make sure to release the
handbrake (if its engaged) before you drive off.[7]

Part
Moving Forward in First Gear
2

1 Press the clutch to the floor and move the gearstick into first gear. It should be the upper-left position, and
there should be some kind of visual layout of the gear pattern on top of the gearstick.[8]
Gear patterns can vary, so take some time beforehand to study your cars gear layout. You may want to
practice shifting through the various gears with the engine switched off (and the clutch engaged).

2 Slowly lift your foot up from the clutch pedal. Continue until you hear the engine speed begin to drop, then
push it back in. Repeat this several times until you can instantly recognize the sound. This is the friction point.[9]
When youre shifting gears to start or keep moving, this is the point at which youll want to have the accelerator
depressed enough to provide power.

3 Let up on the clutch while pushing down on the accelerator. In order to get moving, lift your left foot up from
the clutch pedal until the RPMs drop slightly. At the same instant, apply light pressure to the accelerator with your
right foot. Balance the light downward pressure on the accelerator with slowly releasing pressure on the clutch pedal.
You will probably have to do this several times to find the right combination of up and down pressure.[10]
Another way of doing it; is to release the clutch until the point the engine revs down a little, and then applying
pressure on the accelerator as the clutch engages. At this point the car will start to move. It is best to have the
engine rev just enough to prevent stalling as the clutch pedal is let up. This process may be a little difficult at
first because you are new to the extra pedal in a manual car.
Release the clutch fully (that is, slowly remove your foot from the pedal) once you start moving forward under
control in first gear.

4 Expect to stall at least a few times when youre first starting out. If you release the clutch too quickly the
engine will stall. If the engine sounds like it is going to stall, hold the clutch where it is or push down a bit further. If
you do stall, depress the clutch fully, apply the handbrake, put the car in neutral, switch the engine off and restart the
car as normal. Dont panic.[11]
Revving the engine while the clutch is between fully up and fully depressed will wear out the clutch parts
prematurely, resulting in slippage or smoking of the clutch parts at the transmission. This is called riding the
clutch and should be avoided.

Part
Shifting in Motion and Stopping
3

1 Recognize when its time to shift up to a higher gear. When your RPM reaches about 2500 to 3000 while the
car is in motion, it is time to shift to the next gear for example, second gear if you are currently in first. The
actual RPMs at which shifting is required will vary by the car you are driving, however. Your engine will begin to race
and speed up, and you must learn to recognize this noise.[12]
Depress the clutch pedal until it disengages and guide the gearstick straight down from first gear into the
bottom-left position (which is second gear in most configurations).
Some cars have a "Shift Light" or indications on the tachometer that will tell you when you need to shift, so you
don't rev the engine too fast.

2 Push down on the accelerator very slightly and slowly release the clutch pedal. Shifting gears in motion is
the same as shifting into first from a stationary position. Its all about listening, looking, and feeling for the engines

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cues and getting the up-and-down timing of your feet on the pedals correct. Keep practicing and youll get the hang of
it.[13]
Once in gear and on the accelerator, you should completely remove your foot from the clutch pedal. Resting
your foot on the clutch pedal is a bad habit, as it applies pressure to the clutch mechanism and the
increased pressure will cause the clutch to wear out prematurely.

3 Shift down into a lower gear as you slow down. If you are going too slow for the current gear youre in, your
car will shudder as if its about to stall. To shift down gears while in motion, follow the same process of depressing
the clutch and releasing the accelerator, shifting gears (say, from third to second), and letting off the clutch while
depressing the accelerator.[14]

4 Come to a complete stop. To come to a stop in a fully controlled manner, shift down gradually until you reach
first gear. When its time to come to a complete stop, move your right foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal
and press down as much as is required. As you slow to about 10 mph (16 km/h), the car will be on the verge of shaking
and vibrating. Press the clutch pedal fully down and move the gearstick into neutral to prevent stalling the car. Use the
brake pedal to stop completely.[15]
You can also stop while in any gear by depressing the clutch fully and using the brake while shifting into
neutral. This should only be done when you need to stop quickly, though, as it puts you in less control of the
vehicle.

Part
Practicing and Troubleshooting
4

1 Practice on an easy course with an experienced manual driver. While you can legally practice alone on any
public road with a valid drivers license, you will pick up the nuances of driving a manual car faster if you have an
experienced driver accompanying you Start off in a flat, isolated area like a large (and empty) car park, then move on
to quiet suburban streets. Drive around the same circuit repeatedly until you start to remember the various skills
involved.[16]

2 Avoid stopping and starting on steep hills initially. When youre new to driving a manual, plan routes that
avoid traffic lights at the top of steep hills. Your timing and coordination in working the gear stick, clutch, brake,
and accelerator needs to be fairly sharp in order to avoid drifting backwards when you shift into first gear.[17]
You need to be able to quickly (but smoothly) move your right foot from releasing the brake to depressing the
accelerator, while at the same time letting out the clutch. You can use the parking brake to limit backward
drifting if necessary, but always remember to disengage it as you start moving forward.

3 Learn parking procedures, especially on hills. Unlike automatics, manual transmission cars dont have a park
gear. But, simply putting the car in neutral opens the possibility of your car rolling freely, especially if parked on an
incline or decline. Always use the handbrake, but dont rely on it alone to keep your car in place whilst parked.[18]
If you are parked facing uphill, shut the car off in neutral, then shift into first gear and apply the parking brake. If
facing downhill, do the same but shift into reverse. This will prevent the wheels from rolling in the direction of
the slope.
On extreme inclines, or simply to be extra cautious, you can also place chocks (angled blocks) behind your
wheels to prevent movement.

4 Stop completely before changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Making a complete stop when
changing directions is an easy way to reduce your likelihood of causing expensive damage to your gearbox.[19]
It is strongly recommended to stop completely before going from reverse to first gear. However, it is possible on
most manual transmissions to shift into first or possibly second when the car is moving backwards at a slow
speed, but it is not recommended as this can cause excessive wear on the clutch.
In some cars, reverse gear has a lock out mechanism to prevent you for engaging it accidentally. Before using
the reverse gear, make sure you know about this locking mechanism and how to disengage it before selecting

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reverse.

Community Q&A

How do I reverse in the car and proceed without jumping?

Release the hand brake and from neutral while pressing clutch; bring the gear to the R position, then release the
wikiHow Contributor clutch slowly and simultaneously apply slow pressure to the accelerator to enable you to move the car back. Then
proceed as usual to move forward.
Not Helpful 55 Helpful 301

What is the correct process for changing gears?

Press the clutch pedal down and release the accelerator pedal at the same time. Shift gears, then slowly release the
wikiHow Contributor clutch and press the accelerator at the same time.
Not Helpful 72 Helpful 368

Can I start in number 3?

If you ride the clutch heavily, you can, but this puts excessive wear on the clutch so don't actually try it.
wikiHow Contributor
Not Helpful 31 Helpful 166

Do you always have to move through the neutral when changing from one gear to the other?

Yes, though it occurs in one quick action. You may not notice you have moved through neutral after doing it many
wikiHow Contributor times, but every time you are changing gears, neutral is an inevitable pass.
Not Helpful 56 Helpful 272

Can I change from first gear to second gear without pressing the clutch pedal?

No. You need to press down the clutch to move to the next gear. The clutch is meant to disengage your current gear
wikiHow Contributor so that you can move to the next gear.
Not Helpful 38 Helpful 192

Can I go from the first gear to the third gear?

While you can, it is preferable that you pass through second gear first before third.
wikiHow Contributor
Not Helpful 57 Helpful 271

Is it necessary to press the clutch while starting a car when it is in the neutral position?

It depends on the car you are trying to drive. Try starting it without pressing the clutch, and if it doesn't start, then
wikiHow Contributor press it.
Not Helpful 47 Helpful 225

When I want to go on a bump, I have to press the clutch and brake at the same time; but do I have to shift to neutral?

When you are on a bump, press the clutch and brake, and change the gear to first or second, depending on how
wikiHow Contributor much you have to slow down the car.
Not Helpful 13 Helpful 78

How do you put the car into brake?

Push the brake pedal when you feel the car start to shake. Then put your foot on the clutch and move the gear shifter
wikiHow Contributor to neutral, to prevent stalling.
Not Helpful 40 Helpful 187

When do I need to change gear to a lower position?

You'll need to change to a lower gear when you're slowing from a higher speed to a lower speed, such as for a speed
wikiHow Contributor bump or a roundabout. For example: Suppose you're going 60mph in fourth gear and want to slow down to 30mph for
some reason. For that, depress the clutch, slowly apply the brakes, and according to speed, lower your gear from
fourth to second.
Not Helpful 33 Helpful 154

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Tips
Practice so that you can shift gears without looking at the stick. That way you can keep your eyes on the road.
Learn to recognize the sounds of your engine; you should eventually be able to tell when to change gears without relying
on the tachometer.
If you are having difficulty starting the car from a stop, make sure that you are slowly letting off the clutch. Pause at the
friction point (the part where the engine starts to move the car) and continue slowly pulling the clutch out.
If your car seems like it is going to stall, or the engine is sputtering, then push in the clutch again, wait for the engine to
return to idle, and repeat the steps to starting off.
During sub-freezing temperatures, it is not advisable to leave a car for a long time with the handbrake (parking brake)
engaged. Moisture will freeze and the handbrake might not disengage.
When you want to go over a bump,you hold down your clutch and press your brake slightly to slow down and later release
the clutch gradually and apply the accelerator gradually to move.
These other descriptions mean the same thing as "manual transmission"--"stick shift", "standard", "manual " or simply,
"stick".
If there is no gear positions marked on the gear stick, make sure to ask someone who is familiar with the vehicle how the
gears are arranged. The last thing you want is to back into something (or someone) when you think you've shifted into first
gear.
If you are having trouble mastering clutch control, press down on the clutch, engage first gear (with the handbrake
engaged), slowly release the clutch and apply the accelerator. You will feel the car moving a bit, then let down the
handbrake and the car will move freely.

Warnings

Try to watch if you are on a hill or a steep area. You can roll back and hit the person or object behind you if you are not
holding in the brake and the clutch.
When you have stalled and restarted the engine many times over, try to give the starter and battery a break of five to ten
minutes. This can help to avoid overheating and damage to the starter and discharging the battery completely.
Stop completely before shifting into reverse no matter which direction the car is rolling. Shifting into reverse while the car
is in motion will damage most manual gearboxes.
Keep an eye on the tachometer until you are comfortable with driving a manual. A manual transmission requires more
experience than an automatic. Over rev the engine, and severe damage to the engine may result.

Sources and Citations

1. https://axleaddict.com/safety/Easiest-Way-to-Learn-How-to-Drive-Manual
2. http://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/how-to-drive-a-manual-car-a-dummys-guide/
3. http://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/how-to-drive-a-manual-car-a-dummys-guide/

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