Cut out at 2nd gear

booksale

The car always cuts out at 2nd gear when I am trying to slow down especially on rainy days. Usually it happens when the car is in high speed and then I brake to change the speed to turn. It happens when I try to stop completely too. But it's not a big problem for stopping completely, but it's huge problem if I just want to turn and the car stuck in the middle of the turn!

My instructor thought it's not my problem. And suggested me to take the car to service which I did. They said the clutch is still fine and can still last for a while. They dont suggest to change the clutch as it's expensive and this is just a cheap learner car. And they checked my car and said the car was fine (other than the exhaust, but they fixed it and it did not cause the car to cut out).

Then they concluded it's me as a learner driver who did something wrong when changing down to 2nd gear.

Now, my friend who is an experienced driver has the same problem when he drives my car. Instead, he is worse than me as he is not used to the car. But my friend told me he did burn his clutch quickly as he sometimes uses the clutch improperly. So, maybe he's also doing sometimes wrong so the car cuts out.

So, just wonder anyone any ideas here? Any tips when I change down the gear to turn?

THANKS!

MascotDec85

Very hard to tell what is going on from your post so see if this helps.

On the approach:

Left mirror
Left signal
Centre mirror
Brake gently
Down to 2nd, before the point of turn (start of the curve of the kerb, line or ditch) off the clutch.
If you have braked sufficiently prior to the turn you should be fit to steer the car around the bend without braking.

If that is done the car should not cut out.

Give that a bash

booksale

THANKS.

I was thinking would it be me who did not depress the clutch deep down and let loose of very tiny bit of the clutch before I SHOULD let loose so the car cut out...

would this possible? that only letting go of very tiny bit of the clutch (very very tiny bit really as I THOUGHT I depressed it deep down) would make the car cut out????

Also, I was thinking maybe I should try change to 1st gear to turn... would it work? (should go to the car park and try this out, but is it OK for the test if I change to 1st gear to turn?)

J_R

booksale wrote: »

The car always cuts out at 2nd gear when I am trying to slow down especially on rainy days. Usually it happens when the car is in high speed and then I brake to change the speed to turn. It happens when I try to stop completely too. But it's not a big problem for stopping completely, but it's huge problem if I just want to turn and the car stuck in the middle of the turn!

My instructor thought it's not my problem. And suggested me to take the car to service which I did. They said the clutch is still fine and can still last for a while. They dont suggest to change the clutch as it's expensive and this is just a cheap learner car. And they checked my car and said the car was fine (other than the exhaust, but they fixed it and it did not cause the car to cut out).

Then they concluded it's me as a learner driver who did something wrong when changing down to 2nd gear.

Now, my friend who is an experienced driver has the same problem when he drives my car. Instead, he is worse than me as he is not used to the car. But my friend told me he did burn his clutch quickly as he sometimes uses the clutch improperly. So, maybe he's also doing sometimes wrong so the car cuts out.

So, just wonder anyone any ideas here? Any tips when I change down the gear to turn?

THANKS!

Hi,

Unless the service crowd sold you the car they have no reason to say the car is OK if there was something wrong with it, so first I would check to see if they are correct.

Go someplace quiet take off in first, speed up, change up to 2nd and now take your feet off all pedals. To be on the safe side, as it appears to be intermittent repeat a few times. If the car conks out, change garages.

If it runs OK, change instructor.

He should have been able to spot what you are doing wrong when you change down

Do as Mascot says except I would have the clutch fully up about half a car length back from the corner.

And to start with, and to put less pressure on you, approach in 3rd gear, change down in plenty of time, have everything finished two or three car lengths back.

Then when perfect, back up to 4th and half a car length

J_R

booksale wrote: »

THANKS.

I was thinking would it be me who did not depress the clutch deep down and let loose of very tiny bit of the clutch before I SHOULD let loose so the car cut out...

would this possible? that only letting go of very tiny bit of the clutch (very very tiny bit really as I THOUGHT I depressed it deep down) would make the car cut out????

Also, I was thinking maybe I should try change to 1st gear to turn... would it work? (should go to the car park and try this out, but is it OK for the test if I change to 1st gear to turn?)

Do one thing at a time. Speed well down, change gears in plenty of time, with the clutch FULLY up before you get to the corner.

If it is a tight corner, obstructions, and/or poor visibility then it would be OK to take in first.

And you do not have "tiny bit of clutch", it is either full in or full out, unless you are in First gear and crawling along at walking pace or less,

ADIDriving

Much of what jr said is good. There are only two options: either your garage or your instructor is wrong. I am not a mechanic so I can only guess at reason as to why the revs might drop too low. I am an instructor though.
Typically an engine cuts out if it does not have enough power or speed relative to the gear. Make sure you are not waiting too long to add the clutch when stopping. Make sure you are not too slow for second and that you come smoothly up off the clutch BEFORE the turn. It is correct to take difficult turns in first, usually blind T junctions. Sorry for the next bit. Make sure you are not in forth. If any of this works, it will make more sense of the rest.

booksale

J_R wrote: »

And you do not have "tiny bit of clutch", it is either full in or full out, unless you are in First gear and crawling along at walking pace or less,

Hahah, because I was asked to let go of the clutch slowly so the car can go smoothly, I thought there is 'tiny bit of clutch'.

THANKS, guys.

BTW, the garage is not the one I got my car and my instructor is excellent, no complains.

Anyway, I will try testing the car in a big car park near my living place later.

J_R

booksale wrote: »

Hahah, because I was asked to let go of the clutch slowly so the car can go smoothly, I thought there is 'tiny bit of clutch'.
.

Far more important that you have the clutch fully up than worry about a wee jerk. You do not have to let it up very slowly, just make sure it follows your foot., that you maintain pressure on the pedal, not let it come up on its own

Go and practice pushing in and out the clutch whilst driving along in 2nd gear. (Again on a quiet road) Until you get a 'feel' for it.

ADI34722

One more alternative would be have your instructor drive your car the way he wants you to. Watch what his feet are doing and keep an eye on the speedo and rev counter and try to repeat what he is doing. Timing is everything.

If he cant do it then there maybe a problem with the car but from my understanding of the clutch it shouldnt cut out while your moving at the correct speed for the corner. A possible cause of the stalling could be fuel managemet system. Had an old BMW 5 series awhile ago. The problem was called "Hunting". The air mass regulator was faulty and the rev's would slowly climb and drop between 500RPM (too low) and 1000RPM(too high) when idleing. When i broke for a corner and the idle was low the added power drain on the engine would cause it to stall. Between the powersteering and the braking system they would literilly overpower the already struggling engine. Once my foot came off the clutch in second the engine would fire back up. Took it to 3 garages and no joy. A racing mate just looked at it and said Air Mass Regulator. Trip to a scrapyard and €25 later one fully functioning BMW.

Sorry rant over.