Changing Gears

Ciaramb92

I'm a learner driver but I have a few questions...

Can you stop from any gear or should you go down the gears first? (Stopping for a junction etc.)...

When going down gears to slow to a different speed area (like coming into a town), can you go straight from 5th to 3rd etc.. Or do you have to go from 5th to 4th and then 4th to 3rd... Any exemptions..?

I know there's something else but I can't remember...!!

kirving

You can stop in any gear, well, that is to say, you can if you have to.

You should be in the correct gear for the speed, so if you think you will have to stop soon, you shouldn't be in 5th.

If you have to stop quickly, just brake in whatever gear you're in, and clutch when you have to. (rather than increasing your stopping time by changing down again and again)

You can skip down gears if you have to.

mkahnisbent

If you can go down through the gears, great, but if not, don't worry about it. In my test I always stopped in whatever gear I happened to have been driving in (e.g. 4th) and I didn't get any errors for gears.

Alanstrainor

mkahnisbent wrote: »

If you can go down through the gears, great, but if not, don't worry about it. In my test I always stopped in whatever gear I happened to have been driving in (e.g. 4th) and I didn't get any errors for gears.

That's all fair and well. But changing down through the gears is something you're going to have to be able to do, for example, slowing down to take a left turn will mean you have to change down.
So i wouldn't say "don't worry about not being able to change down through the gears".

OP, as has been said you can stop in any gear. It's actually preferred to stop in the gear you're in rather than changing down, however both methods are perfectly acceptable.
Skipping gears is acceptable as well, you can change from 4th to 2nd for example, instead of going from 4th to 3rd to 2nd.

mkahnisbent

Alanstrainor wrote: »

That's all fair and well. But changing down through the gears is something you're going to have to be able to do, for example, slowing down to take a left turn will mean you have to change down.
So i wouldn't say "don't worry about not being able to change down through the gears".

OP, as has been said you can stop in any gear. It's actually preferred to stop in the gear you're in rather than changing down, however both methods are perfectly acceptable.
Skipping gears is acceptable as well, you can change from 4th to 2nd for example, instead of going from 4th to 3rd to 2nd.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying, because you disagree with me in your first paragraph and then agree with me in your second paragraph.

My comments were about the OP asking about changing down gears when stopping. I never said anything about changing gears to go around a corner.

**Timbuk2**

If you know you are coming to a complete stop, e.g. a stop sign, then there is no need to change down the gears.

I changed down the gears for both of my tests however, and I didn't get marked for gears (although my instructor advised me not to). I picked up the habit when I started to drive. I found it hard to change from 5th to 2nd (for example) smoothly, but found it much easier to get a smoother change if I went 5th-4th-3rd-2nd as I slowed down.

Now, when I am driving, I stay in the gear I am in if I know I am coming to a definite stop. However, if I am approaching lights that have been red for a while, I usually change down the gears in anticipation of them going green so I can continue to drive easily - but it isn't necessary. As my confidence and experience increased, I don't go down the gears sequentially if it isn't necessary. If I am approaching a corner/turn in 4th gear, I will slow down using the brakes, decide what gear I need for the turn, and shift down straight to that gear (e.g 4th - 2nd) and then press the accelerator lightly around the turn.

2yung2adm

You change down to a particular gear to GO not to SLOW.

If you are approaching lights and you see them turning to red from 200 mtrs away you know you are going to have to stop.
If you are in 4th gear in a 50kph zone and doing 40kph and you leave the car in that gear as you slow approaching the lights there is a chance that the car will labour.
If you press the clutch to stop the car labouring you will have coasted and that is a no,no.
In that situation it would be in order to select 2nd gear and come to a stop in that gear.
This also provides for a smooth transition through the lights in the even of them changing to green again when you are about to stop.
The important thing is not to labour and not to coast while driving progressively.

BostonB

It used to be that you'd use engine braking to slow and save wear on the brakes. You still might do this on a long hill. But in regular driving, and with a smaller engine its not that effective. In city driving you probably won't have time to do it anyway.

johnmcdnl

What's the correct way to stop the car though... I find that just as I'm about to stop if I know the car into neutral it prevents any chance of the car cutting out.. Is this method sound??? or should I just stay in the gear I'm in as I come to a stop... and then engage neutral..

**Timbuk2**

johnmcdnl wrote: »

What's the correct way to stop the car though... I find that just as I'm about to stop if I know the car into neutral it prevents any chance of the car cutting out.. Is this method sound??? or should I just stay in the gear I'm in as I come to a stop... and then engage neutral..

Don't do that! Only put the car into neutral when you are completely at a stop.

You can stop in any gear that you are in, if you know you will be coming to a complete stop. For example, if you are in 5th, just slow down using the brakes, leaving the car in gear. Only press the clutch just before the car starts to labour. You will not need to coast to do this. You will be surprised how slow you can go in a high gear without labouring, whilst braking.

MascotDec85

johnmcdnl wrote: »

What's the correct way to stop the car though... I find that just as I'm about to stop if I know the car into neutral it prevents any chance of the car cutting out.. Is this method sound??? or should I just stay in the gear I'm in as I come to a stop... and then engage neutral..

DO NOT under any circumstances stop the car in neutral mate. You are effectively coasting or free-wheeling and as such you do not have the car under control. You must stop the car in gear, pressing the clutch to the floor as you stop.

eg. if you are pulling into the side of the road:

After all your observations
Break gently
Cover clutch and start moving over
Clutch down and break gently to a stop
Handbrake
NEUTRAL



**Timbuk2**
If you're going to block change I saw you said 5th - 2nd was causing you difficulty. You'll find it much easier to change 5 - 3 or 4 - 2 or 3 - 1

Even to even, odd to odd so in theory 5 - 3 - 1

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

2yung2adm

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

....except in the interest of safety to allow for a malfunction of the clutch mechanism or driver error.

**Timbuk2**

2yung2adm wrote: »

....except in the interest of safety to allow for a malfunction of the clutch mechanism or driver error.

There is still no need to put the car in neutral while stopping - it is extremely dangerous. If a car was to skid in front of you, or something, and you have to move quickly out of the way, you don't want to have to put the car in a gear again.

If the clutch malfunctions, you are likely to notice it before you stop (i.e. you probably won't be able to keep driving). If something goes terribly wrong the car will just cut out, so it's not like it's going to cause any damage.

If the clutch ceases to work anymore, you can always just put the car in neutral without using the clutch, although it's bad for the transmission.

You will get a Grade 2 mark in the test everytime you stop in neutral, and if you do it 4 times you will fail - and during the test you come to a complete stop a lot more than 4 times.

2yung2adm

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

There is still no need to put the car in neutral while stopping - it is extremely dangerous. If a car was to skid in front of you, or something, and you have to move quickly out of the way, you don't want to have to put the car in a gear again.

If the clutch malfunctions, you are likely to notice it before you stop (i.e. you probably won't be able to keep driving). If something goes terribly wrong the car will just cut out, so it's not like it's going to cause any damage.

If the clutch ceases to work anymore, you can always just put the car in neutral without using the clutch, although it's bad for the transmission.

You will get a Grade 2 mark in the test everytime you stop in neutral, and if you do it 4 times you will fail - and during the test you come to a complete stop a lot more than 4 times.

I think you got the wrong end of the stick here old boy.

I was not advocating coasting to a stop-that will be clear from my other posts.

I was referring to the situation when you are in fact stopped for a period at lights or roadworks and that period is quantified as 1 minute or more.

The IAM will advise that when you are stopped at lights for what will be a short period that you select neutral, apply the handbrake. When lights turn to amber select 1st and you are off when green. We do not have the pleasure of amber here.
Advanced driving will dictate that when you are one of the 1st four cars you will hold on the clutch when the period is short.

The mechanical side. Most clutch cables that are about to snap will snap while the clutch is depressed for a period of time. You will not normally get advance warning of a cable snap.

Almost all hydraulic clutch cylinders will fail when the clutch is kept depressed. You may have some advance warning that all is not well before hand due to scratchy changes especially into reverse.

BostonB

Considering the unpredictability of traffic light sequences, many of which make no sense, or are not on the same interval every change. It makes no sense to sit on a clutch at lights, you'll just wear out your clutch early. It only takes a couple of seconds to clutch and go.

2yung2adm

BostonB wrote: »

Considering the unpredictability of traffic light sequences, many of which make no sense, or are not on the same interval every change. It makes no sense to sit on a clutch at lights, you'll just wear out your clutch early. It only takes a couple of seconds to clutch and go.

True indeed and perhaps safer

**Timbuk2**

2yung2adm wrote: »

I think you got the wrong end of the stick here old boy.

I was not advocating coasting to a stop-that will be clear from my other posts.

I was referring to the situation when you are in fact stopped for a period at lights or roadworks and that period is quantified as 1 minute or more.

The IAM will advise that when you are stopped at lights for what will be a short period that you select neutral, apply the handbrake. When lights turn to amber select 1st and you are off when green. We do not have the pleasure of amber here.
Advanced driving will dictate that when you are one of the 1st four cars you will hold on the clutch when the period is short.

The mechanical side. Most clutch cables that are about to snap will snap while the clutch is depressed for a period of time. You will not normally get advance warning of a cable snap.

Almost all hydraulic clutch cylinders will fail when the clutch is kept depressed. You may have some advance warning that all is not well before hand due to scratchy changes especially into reverse.

Ah, I agree with that. Sorry, I misunderstood your above posts. I thought you meant actually putting the gearstick in neutral as you are stopping.

I put it in neutral if a pause becomes a wait. I never thought about the clutch cable though - I just find it gives your feet a rest!

Although I don't agree with the bit about holding the car on the clutch. You will burn out the clutch like this and it saves about 0.5 seconds if even that!

2yung2adm

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Ah, I agree with that. Sorry, I misunderstood your above posts. I thought you meant actually putting the gearstick in neutral as you are stopping.

I put it in neutral if a pause becomes a wait. I never thought about the clutch cable though - I just find it gives your feet a rest!

Although I don't agree with the bit about holding the car on the clutch. You will burn out the clutch like this and it saves about 0.5 seconds if even that!

No problem we just needed to get on the same wavelength. Your method is correct.
The holding of the car on the clutch would really apply to the lights about to change- the crossing lanes have stopped-this allows you to progress smoothly and also if you are turning right and wating for a break in the oncoming traffic it greatly reduces your chances of stalling the vehicle or of getting stranded because you fluffed the take off(you will witness it every day)

johnmcdnl

I was thinking that anyways but the possibiliity of a car skidding in front of me is nil because first of all I only drive on back roads and avoid towns yet and then I'm usually the pure slow fecker with a line of cars behind me so I don't have to worry about any car in front :P

I've been practicing the down shifts recently but I'm finding getting into 2nd tricky sometimes - probably because I'm going just a tad to fast... The coasting method is handy for just pulling in to allow the lines of cars to pass by when your only doing 30mph max when your starting off.. I was thinking it was the wrong way to do it but I suppose it didn't cause me any accidents in my experience with it anyways and gave me a chance to get more used to clutching to go up the gears and down when driving without having to worry too much about stalling pulling in... Have got the knack of the clutch and gears pretty much now so I'm off the neutral method pretty much but it's still pretty handy when your on an open road and your just stopping before swinging over the road onto a side road or just stopping the car before gable wall of the house stops me :P

I suppose once your learn a "bad" habit that works your never gonna let it go... ;)

BostonB

There is no such thing as a coasting/neutral method. Its bad driving.

Alanstrainor

johnmcdnl wrote: »

I was thinking that anyways but the possibiliity of a car skidding in front of me is nil because first of all I only drive on back roads and avoid towns yet and then I'm usually the pure slow fecker with a line of cars behind me so I don't have to worry about any car in front :P

I've been practicing the down shifts recently but I'm finding getting into 2nd tricky sometimes - probably because I'm going just a tad to fast... The coasting method is handy for just pulling in to allow the lines of cars to pass by when your only doing 30mph max when your starting off.. I was thinking it was the wrong way to do it but I suppose it didn't cause me any accidents in my experience with it anyways and gave me a chance to get more used to clutching to go up the gears and down when driving without having to worry too much about stalling pulling in... Have got the knack of the clutch and gears pretty much now so I'm off the neutral method pretty much but it's still pretty handy when your on an open road and your just stopping before swinging over the road onto a side road or just stopping the car before gable wall of the house stops me :P

I suppose once your learn a "bad" habit that works your never gonna let it go... ;)

It is a really bad habit to get into though, and despite the above i still cannot see the benefit. Actually i know someone who does this, and cannot stop, when i ask them why they don't even know why they're doing it. It's probably to make absolutely sure they don't stall, but in reality, stalling when stopping is not a big issue, once you get used to stopping a few times, remembering to clutch in just becomes second nature. It's actually quite difficult to stall a car when coming to a halt imo.