starting and changing gears procedure

the irish fella

If anyone could give me a detailed answer that would help me cheers

Taking off....
The issue is I can only take off on pure level ground I can't seem to take off on a slope either way. When I go to give the car a little rev during the biting point the car revs and goes nowhere so I always end up taking off with just clutch. Never had this problem in instructors car any help would be great thanks.

Changing gears...
This issue I had in the very early stages with instructor but its kind of back again with my own car. When I change gears up or down the car kind of jerks when nearly up off clutch and I am releasing clutch slowly and not skipping gears.. also when I change gears upwards should I be gently giving her gas when coming up off clutch and should I be on the brakes when coming up off clutch when going down a gear.

kelfy

If you are taking off going up a hill you will need to accelerate to raise your revs before you take off.
I usually find the bite, go a little beyond it (in the car on a hill when you raise the clutch the car will 'lift' up - this lift is what I look for but you can also hear it) and then press the accelerator pedal to bring my revs up. Then I release the handbrake to move off. The car normally feels like it wants to drive at this point. Take your time getting to the right place with the pedals, it is hard to co-ordinate both at the same time (or it is for me anyway!).
If the car goes backwards, you need to accelerate more to drive forward.
If you cut out, you may be raising the clutch too quickly.
This involves a bit more co-ordination that taking off on the flat and I think most learners struggle with this!

Taking off going downhill, you won't need acceleration to drive forward and you won't need to be pushing at the bite - the car will want to drive on so you don't need to give it the same force.


Changing gears smoothly is difficult too. I normally give a little push on the accelerator and then clutch to gear up to maintain speed and keep things smooth.
I haven't mastered gearing down smoothly yet so I'd like some tips on that too!

J_R

Hi,

You "set the gas" first. That is, depending on the situation you set the power of engine to the appropriate level. You then connect up that power.

So, normally you set the engine to a nice "happy" or "healthy" sound. You then find the holding point. If taking off on a hill rev a little more, also let the clutch "bite" a little more. If in stop/start traffic on level ground, perhaps little or no gas.

Connecting the car to an idling engine, then revving the engine is a bit hit and miss.

Ms.Tea

Excellent advise JR..I am learning to drive at the moment and couldn't get the hang of the bite at all until I switched instructor and I was told to set the gas first and then find the bite, I haven't once stalled or cut out doing this.

J_R

Hi,

Driving instructors who teach their pupils to find the holding point first do not appear to understand the very basic concept, parameters of a modern car. Even worse, some even teach that there is no need to increase the gas when moving off. - unless on a hill -eye£

To cut down on pollution and emissions a car when idling is by its very design set to generate only sufficient power to run the ancillary equipment with a safety margin. If no additional gas is then given, it is this safety margin of power that is then used to connect up a car weighing in the region of a ton and some even expect to move off under full control.

Not too bad say in a Corsa with its rough diesel but not a great idea in a car with a more refined engine.

Set gas first, by how much depends on what you are going to ask the car to do. Then connect. And you will never have any problem thereafter.

Some people appear to think it is normal for a learner to keep stalling. With proper tuition they should only stall a few times. (four perhaps five in total)

I can't tell you why

1. Set the gas, add the bite, then add more gas as you move off.

2. That jolt is almost certainly you coming too fast through the biting point.

Tipsy McSwagger

I can't tell you why wrote: »

1. Set the gas, add the bite, then add more gas as you move off.

2. That jolt is almost certainly you coming too fast through the biting point.

Is it taking you're foot off the clutch too quickly once the car starts moving?

I can't tell you why

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Is it taking you're foot off the clutch too quickly once the car starts moving?

The question & relate to gear changes while moving. But , yes is the same idea.