anyway... i came across a few old threads with people who have had problems with their clutches going out very early on their 5 speeds. these threads were full of "do this" and "dont do that" and "no youre wrong" and "ive never broke a clutch before this" and so on.

it began to concern me because i just realized that i was never officially trained by anyone to "properly" drive a manual, even though i have known how for several years. i also know that i am not alone. for all i know, i could be doing something wrong and not even know it.

i was hoping that those who are more knowledgeable could maybe come up with their best tips on how to take care of your gearbox and clutch, and explain some of the terminology and jargon that accompanies the behaviors of the 5 speed tranny.

if there is already an article somewhere here... please post me a link and flame as needed.

 

How I do it:

1. DONT RIDE THE CLUTCH!!!
2. Be perfectly smooth when engaging the clutch
3. Your car should not "lurch" when downshifting

 

Yes, the search feature still works:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...nsmission+tips

Even better:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ing+a+stick%22

 

I'm like you ryuji. I learned how to drive a 5-spd when I bought an S-10 in 1996 and had to get it home. Since then I've bought 5-spds whenever I could. The only thing I hate about the xB 5-spd is it's my first front wheel drive 5-spd. It's really one of my first FWD cars period. There are performance related 'cheats' with a RWD car that just don't work for FWD, so keep that in mind. Aside from that, the Scion is by far the easiest and most user-friendly clutch I've experienced in terms of starting to roll.

 

When people say "dont ride the clutch" what exactly does this mean?

 

when you keep the clutch pedal in and your not using it to move. I THINK. but what do i know about cars. hehe...

 

riding the clutch is letting the pedal out enough for the clutch to engauge and move the car in motion, but keeping your foot depressed slightly on the clutch petal as to create a slipping type motion between the transfer of power.

so like if you rev the car and you let the clutch out really really really slow, it would be like riding the clutch kinda. its the opposite of popping the clutch. and its bad! bad i tell you.

Im sure there is defined direction for opperation of a manual transmission, but you can only learn the operating procedures, you have to develope your own style.

 

riding the clutch is when you're not using the clutch pedal (like say, you've already engaged the clutch in gear and are just going normally), but you rest your foot on the pedal. THAT is bad. Never do that, ever. Use the dead pedal to the left to rest your foot.

Revving high while slowly letting out the clutch, we call that "burning" the clutch because quite frankly, that's what is happening.

Popping the clutch would be sliding your foot off the pedal, so that it springs up by itself with a lot of force. yea, bad. Dumping the clutch is bringing it up super fast, without any control at all. That should also be avoided. You can have quick clutch pedal movements, there's nothing wrong with that, but they need to be controlled. That's the key factor.

I learned manual with guidance from the folks at the forum over at www.standardshift.com . If anything, I'd say what we discuss on there is the "proper" way to drive manual (i.e., not abusing the car).

I do see and hear a lot of bad habits from especially ricers around here... stuff like launching at 2k-4k, applying power while the clutch is slipping, and I think there are even people who never bother rev matching on downshifts. Also stuff like people shifting into neutral while the car is still rolling at speed, etc.

These are all bad habits I think people should address, but I guess I can't blame them too much since they don't know what I know from the source I know

 

very nicely put!

 

i have the habit of riding the clutch at times but i barely rest my foot down so its nto a lot of pressure. but one thing i need to work on is rev matching when i downshift i dont do it all the time but only when i enjoy driving do i do that

 

you forgot to mention that "popping" the clutch is probably the best thing about having a manual over an automatic..

when the battery dies... all you gotta do is find a downhill and you can start the car.

but yeah.. normally you don't want to do that.

 

ahh yes :D Yea, I know there's a bit of confusion with that term... I usually like to use "bump start" or "push start" to describe that... since yea, it does involve popping the clutch, but one can pop the clutch at any time and not be doing a bump start.

hehe, don't wanna be bump starting all the time either (unless you own an old POS and your starter motor went bye bye!)

Yea, I know what you mean... but that's the big danger in riding the clutch. No matter how small a pressure you put on it, you're pulling the clutch from the flywheel ever so slightly... and so that means, a tiny bit of a slippage. You might not notice, but the clutch is getting powersanded. A few very short times won't kill it, but doing it long term would, as I'm sure you already know.

 

so youre not supposed to launch at 2k? what i do is i clutch in, rev to about 2k-2.25k, then ease out the clutch. it feels smooth when i do it, but ive read that this is a.k.a. slipping the clutch, if i rev any lower than that, the engine rumbles and drags forward. ive tried the "balancing" where i let out the clutch until i feel the vibration, but get the same dragging result because im trying to avoid "slipping" the clutch.

btw, if at all possible, can anyone describe what a burning clutch smells like?

and also, why is it bad to roll to a stop from neutral?

 

A burning clutch smells like burning brakes, acred hot. Coasting with the clutch disingaged is not bad but slightly unsafe, the tranny is part of your decelleration system. Your tires, brakes, and transmission slow the car down. Also you will not be ready when the light changes, you will be hunting for gears at the wrong time.

 

just checked out standardshift.com... it is awesome. i have a feeling i wont get much work done today

 

helpful topic!

 

Oh yea man, trust me you're right

Sign up! :D Tell them paul34 sent ya

We actually have another box owner on the boards... I'm sure he wouldn't mind some company

 

is it back that when im coasting I push in the clutch so the car rolls like it would as if it were in neutral, but dont actually shift to neutral, but I also dont bobble back and forth between clutching and gassing when I do this.

 

If you're just doing it for a really short distance... no problem.

But you always want to be in gear for as much time as is possible. Being out of gear means you are out of control.

However, if you're facing a steep downhill at a light or something... it's useful to just put it in second, roll a little, then let up the clutch at the appropriate time. That way, you don't even have to launch and go through first.

 

I don't slip the clutch when taking off in first. I give a little rev, then let off the clutch. Less wear on the clutch. Also, when down shifting, whether to speed up or slow down, I always rev match. Helps to know how to heal-toe. Be nice to your tranny, it's not a race car, it's an economy car.

~Stephanie