How To Drive A Stick Shift - EricTheCarGuy
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- Опубликовано: 30 дек 2011
- Link to the clutch replacement on this car: www.ericthecarguy.com/vmanuals...
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Well I know this might seem pretty basic but I really think this rounds out the Focus Clutch series because now we have covered, diagnosis, replacement, and now prevention. If you have questions about how a clutch works please check out this video.
• Learn How A Clutch Wor...
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Not sure if this was mentioned specifically, but when you change gears, remember to let off the gas before you push in the clutch.
Mike Schumann
I speed shift by not laying off the gas and slamming into the next gear! Now that's fun!!
You must love replacing clutches.
Easiest way to learn, let the clutch out super slow without hitting the gas, you will feel the car roll forward, push it back in and repeat. Once you have the feeling for the bite point give it just a little bit of gas and go.
bite point? you mean engage?
Was about to say this. Been driving manual most of my life for 20 years now and I learned to drive manual this way back in the days. Same applies to reversing.
I know I'm not the only one here that drives stick but watched this for the fuck of it lol
Fried Souls Ur not lol
Fried Souls same here brother lol idk why im watching this
start driving stick and stall on starts so I'm watching this
Miguel Hernandez
Well it's good you're learning. Once you get the hang of it becomes kind of hard to stall. And hills will actually be kind of fun after some practice.
+Fried Souls I've only driven an automatic once in my life, just to see what it is like but noticed you don't have the same control over the vehicle and you can't downshift or use engine braking
You really helped me learn how to drive stick. You were very straight forward and easy to understand.
what are your thoughts on rev matching on the downshift ETC?
I love how he is constantly doing "whatever he needs to do" :-D
I'm so glad we have to learn this to get a drivers license in Sweden. The hard thing for me is that every car is different in the clutch/gas and it takes a while to get used to another car. One time in driving school I got a breakdown at some train tracks and couldn't get the car moving again, I laughed so hard at myself but the instructor looked a bit stressed! With that said, always good to practice a little bit before you drive another car. Thanks for all the amazing videos!
When I first started driving 14 years ago I could find a manual shift vehicle almost anywhere, now when I go to buy a new vehicle I have to special order stick shift. Gotta love it, right? I plan on teaching my wife how to drive stick and now that I've watched your video I got quite a few good pointers on how to teach her! Thanks man!
Eric is the best RUclipsr, he teaches the people how to do it RIGHT.
yeah so true . if you want to learn the real way its always best to learn from a mechanic .
I always go to neutral or rev-match downshift when coming to a stop. Downshifting without rev-matching just seems too harsh on the engine components for my taste :p
+Michelangelo Hamato Neutral is preferred for me. Unless I'm coming to a stop sign. Extra wear from sitting with a clutch in just makes no sense unless you're gonna quickly be moving again.
@richu27 I would have done that but there really weren't any real hills around where I could do that when I was shooting this video. Thanks for your input and for your comment. Hello UAE!
Why did this video not pop up early when I was searching for How-To's when I was learning a couple weeks ago? I prefer everything about your style of teaching to the alternatives. Thank you EricTheCarGuy.
I never understood why manuals are the norm here in Europe where we have 50 yards between traffic lights and never get out of 3rd. Where as there in the USA you have sometimes (comparatively) vast distances routinely traveled and yet prefer autos. I have never enjoyed driving 'stick'. Its a huge amount of work to save a few mpg grinding along at 29mph in 5th.
People in cities prefer auto here because stop signs are everywhere and you're constantly going to 1st.
EricTheCarGuy
Hey Eric,
I have a question regarding downshifting. Right now I drive a 2012 Tacoma with a 5 speed. I did take lessons on how to drive stick. However, after having to get the clutch replaced 24000km later, I am always wondering whether I am downshifting properly. I don't seem to have any issues with upshifting.
Right now, there are two ways that I downshift:
1) If I want to downshift in order to pass someone or go up a hill: What I do here is push in the clutch and select my gear. While I still have the clutch pushed down, I apply some gas to bring the revs up while letting off of the clutch.
2) I want to downshift in order to turn onto another street or driveway: I push in the brake and clutch, select a lower gear (usually 2nd), and let off the clutch without applying any gas. I usually complete this process before the turn. If I do this around 20 km/h, the engagement is pretty smooth.
From reading this, am I using the clutch the right way? If I am adding gas on a downshift, do I have to be super precise on how much gas I am adding?
Thanks!
+Crockett85 I know Im not Eric but from what he showed in the video, out of the two ways you explained 1) i'm not 100% sure but I wouldn't give much gas if at all any when you have the clutch fully in; thats just gonna burn it and if your doing that hill every day then ya your clutch will need to be replaced alot sooner.
2) I'd say its alot smoother that way because your not applying gas till your left foot is let off the clutch completely. clutch, shift, gas. XD hope this helped. sorry im 8 months ahead time.
Nigel Games
Hey Nigel, thanks for the reply. Yeah I am not sure if what I am doing in scenario 1 is correct or not. I have been doing this for a while. All I know is that my downshifts have been a lot smoother. My driving is about 90% urban city. So far I have not had any issues with my clutch.
How do you usually do a downshift Nigel?
Crockett85 clutch and brake, let go of brake, slowly let off clutch then switch gears and gas...
+Nigel Games I agree. Revmatching seems very unnecessary since you are coming to a stop. Using throttle while applying brakes just doesn't logically make sense. Just let off the gas, press in the clutch, select your gear, and let out the clutch. Personally, if I know I'm going to be at a slow-turning red light, I put it in neutral. It's much less wear since you don't have to hold the clutch in. The only time I rev match is if I'm going downhill, where the force would make sense and engine braking helps.
Been driving stick shifts for over 30+ yrs.. still watched just for the hell of it. 👍Good job
I love your videos! I go to school for auto body, and I'm learning mechanics by watching your videos. I can't wait to build my own race car! Keep up the good work!
I learned how to drive stick on my 2008 Mustang GT.... lmao somehow I'm alive and the car is well
It´s funny if you drive both types regularly. You getting used to automatic to the point that you are forgetting to shift when driving a stickschift or you suddenly forget to push the clutch when coming to a halt xD
The reverse is pretty bad. You get used to driving a manual and then get in an automatic and step hard on the brake as an instinct to shift...
I just got a new(er) car and I still have my other one. one is standard and the newer one is manual. I had to move my old car into the driveway tonight because we are expecting flooding in the streets and I was looking for the clutch pedal the whole time. heh
Amazing how quickly you get used to driving a manual again after so many years.
@DiyMech Yea most clutches are easy money for the seasoned technician. Thanks for your input and comment.
@spelunkerd That's a great tip but I didn't have anywhere to show that effectively when I shot this video. Thanks for your input.
One thing i never understood.. Sitting in traffic? Can't you just put it in netural and lift off the clutch?
Do people really have their car in gear and sit in traffic with clutch down and complain that manuals suck?
V4 Garage yes... people complain about stop and go traffic with a manual because they have to shift in and out of first gear over and over and over especially when youre not driving fast enough to stay in first. but not slow enough to hang out in neutral most of the time.
some people do actually put the clutch all the way in and stay in gear waiting to creep forward again. this isn't advised though since you are constantly putting pressure on your throw out bearing and pressure plate fingers. easier to just put it in neutral and then shift when you are ready to move again.
Yeah dont ride the clutch
Ford M Garage yea I agree with that part but if your shopped on a hill it be wise too not put it in neutral because once you put it in gear your going to roll back a lot and probably hit everyone behind you.
not true, in fact if you let go of the clutch in a hill without accelerating the engine will stop even in first gear.
I think the real question of automatic vs manual is more cultural and less about comfort or anything, once you get used to the stick shift it becomes second nature to you
i rode the clutch an the clutch won i lost lol
Just started my driving lessons (I live in the UK) and this is so helpful. I learnt this in my first lesson but seeing somebody else do it while explaining the actions is super helpful in reinforcing that knowledge, thanks Eric :)
@MrCHINGONism You're in for a real treat when you get the hang of it. Thanks for the comment.
As someone who grew up in Sweden (where 99% of the cars are stick shift) this video is hilarious to me. EVERYONE knows how to drive a stick shift here. If you don't you're really weird.
Ikea sells horse meatballs --that is also weird.
Haha. I'm American and find it annoying that all of my friends drive automatic. I just think they're missing out.
same, i'm romanian. besides being the law that forces you to do the school on stick shift, automatics are more expensive, require more maintainance, use more fuel on average and break down more often. we normally avoid them like the devil.
Your country is approximately the size of a single one (out of 50) of our medium-small states :) we drive way more that you guys, no time for manual.
is that a clients are you are driving with super dirty greasy gloves?
@classikz Not at all as the clutch is not engaged, click the link in the description for the video I did on how a clutch works.
@Michiganborn1969 I like that, 'the friction zone'. Your input is always appreciated man, I hope you had a good holiday.
@shizerproject Thanks for your input and for your comment.
@solonictoyota9186 Glad you liked it, thanks for the comment.
Eric, I've watched several other videos on this (I just bought a manual car and I pick it up tomorrow) and yours by far has been the most helpful. Thank you so much :D
By FAR the best "How to drive a stick" Tutorial on RUclips.
@situationmoney I've downshifted for years on many different cars as well as worked on quite a few manuals and I can say without a doubt that downshifting has no effect on clutch wear or transmission wear.
@jacx11 It could be the linkage or the throw out bearing hanging up. Try disconnecting the linkage from the trans to see if there is any binding or problems when you try and move it, if not then you may need to remove the trans and inspect the throw out bearing and clutch.
Getting my first manual and project car and i must say out of every video you explain things soooo well. TY so much!
i live in the uk most cars and vans are manual over 70% probably. this is a pretty good explanation of how to drive a manual/stick shift it a very hard think to explain without actualy doing it. and eric is spot on with balance that is the key to driving a manual get the balance right and u can drive any stick shift/manual.
@chunkyazian Thanks for the tip and sharing your experience.
@MrPiwo Yes we do. Thanks for the comment.
This was so helpful, my only friend who drives stick is pretty bad at driving so he wasn't a great instructor but this was by far WAY better!
@rradicalguy It is my mission in life to help others with my videos, thanks very much for the comment.
@Rogers1977 It's not a bad idea at all and one of those things that I would consider a 'personal preference', as for how much it wears the clutch I think it really depends on how long you stay on the clutch during a downshift, I've driven sticks for many miles and many years and never actually wore one out.
Eric, when I first started driving a stick, I drove the way you did and my clutch stunk bad whenever I tried to make it up a hill. Later on, I was taught to let the clutch up to the friction point BEFORE touching the gas. Since then, I could get rolling on the steepest hill without that stinky smell. In fact, I sold it with 150k miles on its original clutch. And I learned that the best way to drive a stick in Los Angeles traffic is to leave a cushion and avoid stopping.
Love your videos. They're super helpful. I'm trying to decide if I want a manual or auto 1968 mustang, and I've decided to go with a stick. Thanks for the video.
Put a T5 from a fox body into it :)
To a UK driver this video is a real eye-opener. In the UK we all drive manual cars (stick shift) and learning how is essential if you want to pass your driving test and get a licence. (Well, it is possible to take a test in an automatic but then you are only qualified to drive automatics, so you would only do that if you had some physical problem that prevented you from driving a manual.)
@christo930 That's a good point, thanks for your input.
@sbakar Good point, thanks for your input.
Cool, informative and useful video for many. Thanks Eric!
@mickblock That's a good analogy, thanks for the comment.
Thank you so much for this video. I have just gotten my first car and needed to learn how to drive stick shift. By watching your video several times I have figured it out and was able to get used to the clutch. A+ video. :D
@Rogers1977 I would say that depends on how worn the clutch is or how it is adjusted.
@backwoodsctryboy That's because you never use it speed shifter. :) As for the mileage I think I put it in the clutch series somewhere, this is the same car. Good to see you man I feel like it's been forever.
Years ago, a friend taught me the same way you taught it in your video, and I never got it. Then a different friend taught me with a different perspective, and I got it IMMEDIATELY. Put the clutch in, put it in first, keep the clutch in. Here's the trick. Watch the tachometer and simply bring the clutch up slowly. The needle on the tachometer drops by about 100, indicating that the clutch is engaging. Gently add gas and you're rolling! After a few rounds of this, I knew where the clutch engaged
Wow amazing timing on this video. I am considering buying a new 2012 Ford focus with a standard transmission. Automatics are about $1000 more expensive, so I'm trying to save money. I have been riding motorcycles for years and I have an understanding of how a clutch works. However I have very little experience with a clutch on a car. Thanks for the upload!
I know how to drive a stick but I didn't know how to downshift, I do now and you explained it very well. Subscribed.
as always you have the greatest talent of explaining.
@calk87 That's the point, you're using the engine to break.
In the UK, most cars are 4 cylinder, small capacity, stick shift. Most people have fairly long training periods in these, 1/2 a year and hour a week with a professional accredited (and expensive) trainer. You explanation of finding the sweet spot is great. Some times, it may help to do this from the bottom of a very slight incline, to aid the discovery of the spot, and were the clutch is slipping & were engaged, but as you say, some were out of the way of other road users.
Great video. If you want to learn yourself (best way is to see a driving teacher for a lesson), key is TAKING YOUR TIME. With experienced drivers it looks like a single move, but that only comes with practice. Beginners should do it in steps. What worked for me is..
1/ press brake and clutch, put it in first gear
2/ depress clutch, but only until you can feel a slight vibration, keep it there
3/ depress the brake, and rev the engine to about 1500 rpm
4/ depress the clutch and go
Awesome finally a video with a great downshifting tutorial
best manual tutorial so far on youtube!
+NI3L333 Agreed. I've watched other popular tutorials and I just couldn't quite get it. He makes it look so simple and describes it well.
@slay3rsaber Yea I've stomped on my floorboards a couple of times trying to activate the clutch.
I'm so glad I found this channel (: so much information!
Beautiful video, best tutorial i have found for learning stick
@chrisr1672 Not really in my experience but I see where you're coming from. Thanks for your input.
very helpful, I've watched lots of videos on this. I'm doing an engine swap in my Civic which is going to change it to a manual so I bought a cheap manual to learn. Taking off is difficult. I get jerked around till I can get it up to speed then take my foot off the gas and reapply smoothly.
Here in Norway, manual transmission is somewhat considered 'the' norm. Though, most "automatic-users" tend to be the drivers in and around the city, mainly due to overpopulated roads (read; undersized and horrible neglected roadsurface) and rush-hour traffic. But still, over here it's completely the other way around compared to The States ^^
I hope more drivers will get the hang of manual after watching this vid, they're clearly missing out! This was a great tutorial for beginners, good job :)
@Smallgasengine1 Actually you probably can't as the transmission is designed not to go into 1st if your speed is too high but if you manage to get it in you could over rev the engine and possibly damage it.
Excellent video Eric.
@FrenchValleyAirport It's in the video, you might want to watch it again.
Brilliant video, has answered a lot of questions
@sharky322 Depends on how long your foot is on the clutch.
I used to downshift through every gear but recently stopped, since it makes for less clutch wear and a smoother decel. However, THANK YOU for not just getting up to speed, popping it in neutral and coasting all the way to a stop. That really grinds my gears (pun intended). If you're used to coasting all the way from 50mph in neutral or with your foot on the clutch, you're causing more brake wear. Plus, if you have to hit the gas in an emergency, it's much quicker to have the car in gear.
very helpful. always try to learn more info about driving manual trans vehicle. i personally don't like them, but they are part of the trade. at trade school they gave us a week long crash course in the afternoons, but something i didn't learn until a couple years ago was down shifting. got a car that the compalint was grind on 4-3 downshift and 3-2 downshift, i learned very quick. but now all i seem to do is 1 ton dully 5 speeds, that have big welders on them, such a pain.
this is a good to the point and informative video. it does seem like an odd topic to someone from the UK where manual cars are the norm. when I passed my driving test you had the choice of a manual or automatic test .manual being the full licence (drive either ), or if you cold not pass the full test you could take a automatic test being restricted to automatics only.purely out of interest is it similar in the states.
Eric you are the man thanks for this video
@EricTheCarGuy alright thanks love your vids best how to videos i have ever seen easy to keep up with
@MrChevyman95 Thank you!
You're totally right Eric. My car is a diesel and I hardly need any effort to get going in 1st gear. My wifes car has a smaller (gas) engine and needs to be revved up more to get going in 1st. When I'm at work I sometimes drive a company van which again reacts way different.
Best tutorial iv'e seen so far
@eric thanks for the video man. I had an idea it would be like this but you just confimed what i was thinking. my nxt car will deff be a manual.
@hubbleISS Stress can be a good motivator.
@happy543210 Good point, thanks for the input.
great video.......i learned clutch basics as a small boy on my grandfathers case tractors........i also perfer manual over automatic.....i just like the way the engine stays linked to the rear wheels as a solid unit if you will....curious tho how many miles was on the focus? i drive a 2002 f150 with the m5od madza transmission with almost a 1/4 million miles on it and have yet to replace the clutch disk
I drive a '90 Camry with an automatic but someday I'll have to drive a manual... and now I know how. Thanks Eric!
yup, I really agree with you.. When I got my license recently I thought It was going to be difficult. I practiced a lot got really good. Then when the test came all I had to do was go around the block and pull forward in a paring spot and that was it.
@MrMK94 No problem. Also, sometimes after taking off from a stop, I'll go straight to 3rd instead of 2nd then to 3rd. Or if I'm merging onto a highway and I'm in 3rd, I'll go straight to 5th. Only thing you gotta worry about doing this is making sure your revs are high enough so you don't "bog" down the engine.
@EricTheCarGuy been taught to blip the gas(rev matching) to avoid clutch riding, transmission wear and for the smoothest operation. but to each of their own.
I watched this video on Sunday, went out and drove my sitck shift for the first time. Thanks.
@Raymond106 The transmission should be fine, just keep in in Honda manual trans fluid and you should be fine.
this is one of the better tutorials ive seen
Thank you so much for your video.it was really helpful for me. I started driving stick shift 3 days ago and I try to avoid uphills can you make a video of how to drive stick shift on a upper hill?
I'm only 15 but I'd really like to learn manual before the drivers tests to get some knowledge so this vid was great. Thx Eric and stay dirty
Good luck! i just gogt my first stick shift, after you get the basics it will come easy
I had found that problem tricky. Thank you for the tips.
Great tutorial I even learner a few things been driving a stick for years hadnt for about 10 years but its like riding a bike once you learn you never forget
@djdarkmunk I'll keep that in mind but with as many cars as I've been in over the years and with some of the stuff I've found I'll keep my gloves on, I'd wager you would too.
Great video like always.
@axenz1 I've actually already done a video on that, check the section on my website under 'manual transmission'.
Years ago I used to drive a stick on the lower deck of I-93 in Boston. That cured any fantasies of driving stick.
good stuff! takes practice and depends on how smooth one wants to be. hill starts definitely require practise to avoid rolling back.
I've touched autos about 3x in my driving history (1 @ US). newer paddle-shift with auto mode cars (robotic single, dual or triple clutch) have been creeping up over the last years but are far from mainstream in europe.
the difficult bit about driving an auto if one is used to manuals is avoiding slamming the brakes when instinctively looking for the clutch :)