Drive Manual Car – Easy Tips For Beginners
Driving A Manual Car For Learners
This is the continuation from the article 11 Key Components Of A Manual Car. If you have not seen it, it may be a good idea to read it.
After adjusting the seating position and making certain the “reclining” position is correctly adjusted, the driver is advised to adjust the rear mirror and the right hand “side” mirror. Ensure that the back position of the car can be seen clearly.
Turning the ignition key, three times to the right, will start the car. If this is your first time doing so, turn off the ignition and start the car again. This is to give you some practical practice on “how to turn the ignition key” correctly.
Next, accelerate slightly by stepping on the accelerator pedal. You can now hear the engine buzz rather clearly. Keep your right foot on the accelerator. If the accelerator is being stepped on too heavily or otherwise, either step or release the accelerator accordingly. The constant pressure on the accelerator pedal indicates that the car is now ready to “move off”.
The next step is to leave or take off your left foot slowly. In doing so, do make sure that the “heel” is firmly on the ground. Leave the clutch foot slowly to a point of 50%. At 50%, the car will move forward gently. As the car moves forward slowly, control the clutch and the car should be moving ahead gently and smoothly.
When the car has gained momentum (having gone 10 – 20 meters), it is now time to execute the 2nd gear. Repeating the familiar phrase, “Left foot down, right foot up (accelerator up)”, you will have to follow your instructor’s instruction until you can coordinate in engaging the gears.
The whole procedure is repeated all over. When you have mastered the technique of changing gears 1 and 2 well, you can now proceed to changing into gear 3. In the first few driving lessons, you will be taught up to 3rd gear only by your instructor. Leave gear 4 until a later date when you are better in driving.
The above suggestion is mine and mine alone. Other instructor may have their own ideas. They are free to decide otherwise.
Driving A Manual Car Guide
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Sir ,
I would like to know which i should do first – to lift the hand brake up and then put the gear in the neutral after i clutch and brake when i wish to stop.
My instructor always used to get me confused with this but from the webs related to driving instructions for a beginner i have learned that one should pull up the hand brake and then bring the gear to neutral when one wishes to stop the car after one has pressed the clutch and foot brake down.
Please enlighten me on this .
Yours faithfully,
Mona
Dear Mona Karipel,
Ideally, put the car into “free” gear first.
Then, pull up the handbrake.
‘Cikgu Yap
I don’t understand when to go on full clutch. I have observed it is usually in the down gradient but the instructor insists on it a few other times too..
Dear Sindhu,
Full clutch is applied when the car is extremely slow and starts to vibrate or jerk. Normally, instructors advise students to step on the clutch when going down test slope. The eliminates the car stalling.
Good tips for learners.
Dear Monadas,
Your positive comments are much appreciated.
Dear CIkgu Yap,
I just came across ur blog today, and I’ll be going for JPJ test this Thursday. I’ll always get easily panic. Do you have any idea to success in JPJ test with flying colours?
Dear Faridah,
Read the following article ==> 10 Tips to Passing The Highway Code Test
All the best to you!
Excellent post. These guides should be compulsory reading for anyone driving on our roads and in our National Parks. Not only foreign visitors but our local drivers as well!
I am elated and delighted with your commendable comments. Thank you very much.
any tips during driving up to hill? do i need to neutral my gear when car is stopped up there?
i failed on this
Please read the following article ==> Failed Your Driving Slope Test? Read This.
i would like to ask if there is an english version of kpp book…. i can’t even find it online at jpj website…. wish u could help me with links to download an english version of kpp book.
There’s such a book. Lately, it has been very difficult to locate it. Myself also finds it hard to get hold of it.
Hello there Cikgu Yap. Nice article indeed. But I have something to ask…
When I was driving up the hill, the car have to stop at the yellow line right? And then, when I already balance the accelerator and the clutch pedal, just when I start to release the handbrake, my foot “terlepas” from the clutch pedal. What should I do to improvise that? Any tips?
And also, what is the best position for feet on the pedals?
From my observation, you should have better control of your left foot over the clutch. Concentrate on your clutch. When it begins to vibrate (jerk), your mind should make it a point to fully control it.
Regard feet on the pedals, the clutch foot (left foot) the heel should be on the floorboard. You only raise your toes up to 50%. Control the other 50%.
In fact, a good / experienced driving instructor should know this technique.
my instructor do teach me that there is one meter that you can look at. on the right side there is a meter 1, 2, 3….
then normally it show more than 2 when u press on the clutch, raise your foot until the meter around 1 and control it (steady your steering n focus on the meter) . you can feel the car is moving. then press the accelerator, then can put down hand break.
this meter thing really help as sometime when you raise your foot a lot (meter still shows more than 2) n the car still not moving, may be 2 things, 1: the gear not in, 2: need to raise the foot some-more.
Hope it help.
hi,
Just wanna knw if its a good practice to drive at 30-40 km speed, in the top gear…
plz advise….
It’s a bit slow, but I guess it should be alright.
For beginner always drive with bare foot. It gives better judgement for applying presssure on pedal.
After having long experience the wear shoes or chappals.
For your information, not wearing shoes when learning is against J.P.J.’s directives.
Hi,
How do we break from 60km speed down a slope and meeting a traffic light in near distance (around 500m) , need to press break only @ clutch. n if need to press clutch, start from what speed?
Ideally, change down to gear 3. As you proceed downhill, apply brakes gently. Do not depress clutch. When nearing traffic light change to gear 2.
Hi…
I have problem with traffic light and the roundabout. What should we do when we are facing this two obstacle? Lets say…the traffic light turn red, what gear to use or handbrake or what ever it is…..
Please advise…Thank you.
At traffic lights, free gear and pull up the handbrake. When traffic lights turn green, release the handbrake and go.
Great tips.
Cikgu Yap, would like to know how should i control my pedals during traffic jams…???
Assuming you’re using a manual car, you should ideally use gear one. Control the clutch slightly and changing between brake and accelerator.