n00b - starting off (1st gear) problems

The Black Oil

Hey,

I've only started to learn, had to 2 lessons so far. My instructor's car is a diesel, the one I'm learning in is petrol. In the petrol I've had a few moments now where I just can't get the take off correctly, hence being in the way of others, stuck at roundabouts or lights. I'm not doing something right as the car tends to conk out somewhere between releasing the clutch and using the accelerator. First take off at the house this morning was fine, later in another town, at a roundabout and lights, not so much, though I got it right on other occasions.

Will talk to my instructor about it, but any advice?

chin_grin

I think for consistency's sake you should be learning and practising in a similiar car.

I learned in a petrol and am now driving a diesel and the clutch work is completely different that when I go back to driving a petrol I have to be aware that it's a bit more sensitive. (I'm sure that's because of the car though and not the engine type? I'm not too sure!).

But that's all that's to the clutch. You can push a tiny bit more on the accelerator just be sure that when you bring up the clutch you do it slowly! It'll take practise though.

starlit

It takes time and practise to get it right. Getting the clutch and the accelerator to meet at 'biting' point is key. Its as you slowly lift up the clutch, if you lift it up too soon or too quickly without enough acceleration/not meeting the accelerator at biting point the car will stall. Even still having your foot too far down with the clutch could cause the car to stall too sometimes if you haven't reached biting point.

Best thing to do is to practise for a couple minutes each day outside your house just getting the car moving and stopping etc. It will all come to you eventually. I think if you stall and start again straight away then you be fine but If you find yourself stalling constantly and not able to move out after a few goes then best to practise outside your home when trying to get to the biting point correctly.

Keep at it you get there with it eventually. You are only starting to learn so will take time. You are only learning! Best of luck with it op.

swiftblade

My instructers car is a diesel and my car is a petrol. Clutch is a bit more sensitive in my own. The key to good clutch control is practise, practise and more practise. Find a quiet carpark some where and practice starting off and stopping.
When you feel the car starting to struggle give it a bit more accelerator. It's one of those things that will just come in time. I was the same as you starting off. I dreaded roundabouts and traffic lights.

Reloc8

In general, if you had two engines of similar performance in similar sized cars, the petrol will require more revs at take off than the diesel, which will pull harder on the clutch alone and require less input on the accelerator to get moving.

So, in your own car, you need to make sure you find the biting point, and then apply accelerator to bring revs up sufficiently to pull away without stalling before smoothly releasing the clutch.

You need less gas to pull away smoothly in the diesel - which is probably why after driving your instructor's car, you find yourself stalling your own petrol engine.

Alanstrainor

Diesels will generally be more forgiving as they will pull a lot harder without much use of the accelerator. So even if you release the clutch too quickly on the diesel it will be more likely to just pull away rather than stalling.

It'll just take a bit of practise, don't worry about it, just take you time, don't be afraid to give the petrol a bit of gas and just go for it.

thedumberman

This is something that gets everyone at the start, regardless of the petrol vs diesel situation you are in. I started driving there about 8 months ago and used to dread someone leaving me out of an exit because id conk the car and roll back and have to try again. I wouldn't worry, as everyone else has already said, you WILL get it with practice

Chuck Stone

Black Oil wrote: »

I'm not doing something right as the car tends to conk out somewhere between releasing the clutch and using the accelerator

Try leaving the clutch out a little slower.

As others have said keep practising and you will get there.

The Black Oil

Hey, thanks for all the posts.

I think the diesel is more forgiving re the biting point/starting off, yeah. Practising outside the house isn't feasible as it's often busy, one way and there are lots of parked cars around.

Had another lesson today, went through several roundabouts - thankfully I didn't stall on them, but did a few times elsewhere. I'm not getting some of the gears correctly, going from 3rd down to 2nd and I end up getting 4th. Hand positions, hand positions.

Reloc8

What hand position are you using to drop it into second ?

If you grasp the gear stick on top sort of like a claw, you are likely to have this problem (looking for 2nd, getting 4th).

Instead try inverting your hand so that you grasp the front of the gearstick with the side of your hand pointing up and your thumb pointing down and your elbow out towards the passenger seat. Moving your arm and hand back now will naturally draw the gearstick towards 2nd from 3rd for you.

starlit

I find getting into 2nd either to have your hand gripping from your palm or to have your palm showing by having your thumb on the top of the stick and 2nd finger/rest of your fingers/hand holding the under part of the top of the stick wrapped around the upper lower part. Similar to the way you would hold a kettle/tea pot.

Either way be acceptable or by 'claw' version too. By getting to 2nd gear from 1st or 3rd.

Going Forward

All cars are slightly different in this regard; even for experienced drivers it is possible to stall a car on first take-off if they are not used to it.

The only useful advice is what has been recommended already, practise and more practice.

And importantly DO NOT over analyse this current fault/problem, it WILL come naturally to you, always remember that there are a load of clowns out there who look down their noses at learners when they were all once the very same as yourself.
-And if they could master it, so can you!

Lots of practice.

GERMAN ROCKS

give it more of the accelerator

Dr conrad murray

hey i think your doing really good after only 2 lessons
i think every one stalls/ slips into the wrong gear at some point when learning to drive , the more you practise the easier it will get and eventually
you wont even be thinking about the gears or clutch it will just come naturally

starlit

This DVD is handy for those who are starting out getting to know and understand the controls. Here's a link for it. I found it very good. It shows the position of the correct way to hold the gear stick and what would be expected to do on the test in terms of gripping the gear stick, 10 to 2 position with the wheel and understanding the controls mainly.

http://www.drivingscool.ie/

The Black Oil

Hey,

Thanks for the posts and encouragement.

I've had a few more lessons now - lesson 4 seemed to go smoother than 5, though not a lot went wrong in 5, just some gear iffyness on my part. Have been through roundabouts and stuff like that. I'm still very wary of them, though I suspect a lot of qualified people are as well and there was nearly an accident ahead of us the last day I was out (with my instructor) because someone on the roundabout didn't know what they were doing.

Gears, decision making and practice are the main things at the minute.

carleigh

Get as much practice as you can. I had my first lesson last week (having my second tomorrow) and the past couple of days I have been out driving for an hour each time, and I already feel more confident changing gears, stopping etc, I got up to 4th gear, tackled a roundabout a couple of times and it all went well. This is my second time learning as I emigrated in the middle of learning to drive a few years ago, but now that I'm back I'm ready to hit the road! Best of luck

The Black Oil

I've had 7 lessons now, generally going OK, though still a few issues. Did the reversing around a corner with the instructor this week - it'll take a while to get used to and the turnabout (3 point turn). But I was on a sharp hill (with mother, not the instructor) and slipping back a little, so people get impatient and went around me, staring, of course. I wasn't even there that long. Got it then with a lot of petrol and the clutch, but people shouldn't get that close to a learner on a hill, imo.

Going Forward

Black Oil wrote: »

I've had 7 lessons now, generally going OK, though still a few issues. Did the reversing around a corner with the instructor this week - it'll take a while to get used to and the turnabout (3 point turn). But I was on a sharp hill (with mother, not the instructor) and slipping back a little, so people get impatient and went around me, staring, of course. I wasn't even there that long. Got it then with a lot of petrol and the clutch, but people shouldn't get that close to a learner on a hill, imo.

Keep at it, you will be fine.
When on hill starts, no harm to use your hazards if not already doing so.
As for technique, if the engine is" roaring", you'll know its probably getting too much juice. Each situation/hill will be different, sometimes you will have the opportunity to handbrake and lay off the juice, others you wont. Again,its all practice and get easier.

The Black Oil

Thanks I don't recall how I got it in the end, though I'd probably remember if I was sitting in the car rather than at the keyboard. Good idea with the hazards. I had to use the foot and handbrake to stop it rolling back, so it was tricky to go over onto the accelerator without the thing rolling. I'll have to do it again no doubt, but I'll get there.