A lot of novice drivers, especially females, are afraid to drive a car with a manual transmission. Especially now when technical progress comes to the point that cars with automatic transmission begin to dominate the sales market.
Many car enthusiasts simply do not want to connect their lives with the difficulties in learning and using mechanics. Since in the process of learning to drive there are many difficulties with gear shifting. And this distracts from the road and makes the unprepared driver and all road users nervous.
But the automatic transmission is also not perfect and has many drawbacks. The big and very important one is not a budget option. Therefore, despite the inconvenience, most drivers choose mechanics. And then the question immediately arises, how to properly shift gears on the mechanics while driving? In this article, we will help you deal with this issue.
Mistakes made by beginners when shifting gears
With the help of this pedal on the mechanics, the process of mechanically disconnecting the engine drive from the wheel drive is going on. Therefore, on the mechanics, when switching from low speed to high speed or vice versa, you need to depress the clutch pedal. If you do not learn the correct operation of this mechanism, then you are guaranteed not only the speedy repair of the car, but also the likelihood of getting into a traffic accident increases.
The main mistakes that most often occur when shifting gears for beginners can be called the following:
- Regassing or pecking of the car (short-term engine braking) at the moment the gas pedal is released and the clutch is pressed. This is due to the fact that the student releases the gas faster than he squeezes the clutch in case of a dive. Or vice versa, he quickly presses the clutch, while not releasing the gas pedal, as a result, regassing occurs.
- Transfer the emphasis to the hand with which the student holds the steering wheel (pulls the steering wheel to the left) at the moment the gear is engaged. This habit can easily lead you astray.
- Incorrect operation with the gearbox lever. The transmission is switched on not according to the scheme, but obliquely. This leads to the fact that instead of the desired transmission, a completely different speed is switched on. For example, instead of the first gear, the third is switched on, and instead of the second, the fourth. The location of each gear should be known even before you get behind the wheel for the first time. And it is better to train in switching gears on an unstarted car and exactly according to the scheme. In this way, various problems can be avoided, such as those associated with incorrect shifting while driving.
- Also, novice drivers often divert attention to the gear lever when shifting, instead of keeping an eye on the road. This is strictly prohibited and may lead to an accident, try not to look at it.
- As practice shows, it also becomes difficult to choose the moment for the subsequent shift or not knowing which gear to turn on at a particular speed. We'll talk about this in more detail below.
You can also learn about the mistakes of novice drivers from the following video:
Correct shifting while driving
Often there are situations when inexperienced drivers begin to switch without typing desired speed. Ultimately, this destroys not only the transmission, but also the engine of the car. When driving on highways or highways, shifting should be smooth, gears should be changed as the vehicle speed increases.
You should not have the goal of reaching the highest gear at a low speed of the car, and vice versa, constantly drive high revs engine. You should only choose desired gear corresponding to the current vehicle speed. Since each gear has its own optimal speed mode, in which the engine works most efficiently and economically.
We watch a useful video on how to shift gears using the speedometer or tachometer while driving:
Feature of driving a car on the mechanics
For novice drivers, some of the nuances of driving a car with a manual transmission may be surprising news. For example, when changing gears in the gearbox, the car loses a certain speed. And the longer you delay switching, the great speed loses the car.
If you need to upshift, then you need to shift the lever quickly, without wasting time thinking about this step. But this does not mean that you need to sharply "stick" the lever into the wrong position. Try to prepare in advance for the inclusion of a particular gear, even before changing speed. Since your car will suffer greatly from sudden and incorrect switching.
Remember that when overtaking a car, you should not switch unless you guarantee to do it quickly and correctly. This is especially true in cases where the maneuver must be completed in a minimum period of time or in an extreme situation.
How to shift gears on the mechanics while driving?
In fact, the actions are simple, in the process of driving everything is worked out to automatism:
- First of all, you should remove your foot from the accelerator pedal and, at the same time, depress the clutch pedal all the way.
- Next, you need to shift to a lower or higher gear, depending on what you want to do.
- After that, you need to release the clutch pedal very slowly and smoothly, while adding gas.
First you need to remember main principle gear shifting: when changing from low to high gear or vice versa, the clutch must be depressed. In other words, the gearshift lever and the clutch should go in close conjunction, like climbers storming the dangerous traverse of Everest. If you do not follow this rule, then set aside a certain amount of money in advance that you will need to buy new box gears.
What you need to know about gear shifting
It is necessary to take into account the fact that switching techniques different gears differ from each other. Common to them is the scheme "squeeze the clutch - shift gear - release the clutch."
Manual transmission is not as scary as it is drawn
If you are a beginner, then it may be news to you that during a gear change, the car loses speed, turning into a “body” that moves by inertia. It is for this reason that you need to shift gears smoothly, but at the same time quite quickly so as not to slow down the car.
When to change gear
There is an exact calculation of the average speed range of the use of gears, which we will give in the table below.
Naturally, these calculations are schematic, because you need to take into account other factors that can affect the ride. Be that as it may, but this scheme is applicable to unloaded cars that are moving along a road on which there is no resistance whatsoever. If there are, for example, the car is driving on deep snow, viscous sand or climbs a steep slope, then the gear shift should be carried out a little later - that is, above the announced speed limits.
Helpful advice
There is a universal recommendation for choosing one or another gear: the first gear is intended for starting the car from a standstill, the second is used for acceleration, the third allows overtaking, the fourth is suitable for driving in the city, and the fifth - on motorways and expressways.
How gears are shifted
So, to switch gears, you need to perform certain actions:
- with the help of a sharp movement, you need to squeeze the clutch all the way to the floor, while releasing the gas pedal;
- quickly and smoothly turn on the desired gear, first moving the gearshift lever to the neutral position, and then immediately to the gear position;
- we release the clutch pedal, while you can slightly increase the engine speed - this will help compensate for the loss of speed;
- Let go of the clutch all the way and give it a little more gas.
Automatic transmission - for the lazy or those who love global comfort
There are no strict conditions on the account of the gear shift sequence: you can turn them on out of order - from the first to go straight to the third, from the second to jump to the fifth and so on. However, at the same time, more time is spent on acceleration, and the speed will drop significantly.
Mistakes newbies make
Among the most typical mistakes that novice drivers make, it should be noted that they do not work smoothly with the gearshift lever, which is why the car loses speed. In this case, the switching, as a rule, is diffuse and abrupt, which causes damage to some of the gearbox components.
When starting off, beginners often abruptly release the clutch pedal, which causes the car to twitch and the transmission to become unusable.
The seat needs to be properly adjusted.
A typical situation is when a novice, when necessary to switch from second to third gear, says that he is not going to go more than 40 km / h. And who said that an overdrive necessarily implies an increase in speed? On the third, you can safely go no faster than 40 km / h. The whole point is that overdrive give you the opportunity to go faster, but no one forces you to use this opportunity.
Another point that is typical for novice drivers is the belated inclusion of second gear. In the mind of the “teapot” (sorry for the frankness), the training scheme takes root: first gear, acceleration to 20 km / h, and then switching to second. This does not take into account the fact that this speed is already reached when you release the clutch after starting off. This becomes the reason that novice motorists are late with the inclusion of the second.
Helpful advice
If the vehicle is moving in a stable speed mode, the left foot should in no case “hang” over the clutch pedal. Correct position feet - on the floor, to the left of the clutch. The leg that “hangs” over the pedal gets tired very quickly, and involuntary clutch release may also occur, which is fraught with its destruction. In addition, the driver must have a third point of support in order to avoid such unpleasant moments as reduced steering efficiency and curvature of the spine.
Correct gear shifting
It is important to immediately adjust the seat in order to reach the gearshift lever without tilting the torso. Often, the lever itself is also adjusted for this purpose.
Timely gear shifting and the ability not to overload the engine enable experienced motorists to spend 25% less fuel when driving around the city than novice drivers use.
When shifting gears, it is very important to transfer the left hand, which remains on the steering wheel, from the fifteen to three position to the upper sector of the steering wheel. This will allow, if necessary, to make an emergency maneuver. As for novice drivers, when shifting gears, they quite often experience an involuntary turn of the steering wheel to the left if the hand is not on its upper arc.
And even this will not scare you later
At first, the moment of gear shifting will be prompted by the tachometer, then it will be enough to listen to the engine. Tachometer diesel car should show 1500-2000 rpm, and the rotational speed crankshaft at gasoline cars should be 2000-2500 rpm.
On modern automotive market Increasingly widespread are instances with automatic or robotic gearbox. By their own technical specifications they are no longer inferior to their mechanical counterparts, in addition, attracting a potential owner by the absence of the need to independently manage the process switching speeds, over and over again making a lot of gestures. However, in the secondary market, on average price segment the ratio of cars sold will still be, rather, in favor of those that have a manual transmission.
Drivers of the old school believe that more reliable than mechanics nothing can be, but all kinds of robots and automata are rather Consumables for cars than their full-fledged parts, since they are unnecessarily expensive to maintain and much more prone to all sorts of defects. In some ways, such car owners are really right: in itself, mechanical Transmission it is simpler than an automatic transmission and a robot, so there are fewer problems with it. If you take two cars of a certain brand, in the same body and the same years of production, one on the mechanics, and the second on the machine - the first copy will cost a little less. And if we compare prices for repair work- a manual gearbox will please the owner without emptying the wallet too much. But for car drivers automatic transmissions it is sometimes necessary to invest considerable sums in bringing them into working condition.
The figure is a diagram of a manual transmission.
The mechanics cause dissatisfaction, mainly among novice drivers. Due to the lack of any experience in driving a car, they immediately have questions: “How to shift gears on the mechanics?”, “How to start moving at all?” or “How to drive out backwards?”, - and a host of others. But after a few practical exercises dissatisfaction and bewilderment pass, and a practical skill appears - after all, in fact, there is nothing super complicated in self-switching There are no manual transmission transmissions.
OPERATING PRINCIPLE
First you need to understand what the principle of operation manual transmission. The purpose of the box is to generate gear ratio rotational speed from the engine internal combustion to the wheels of the car. gear ratios- this is a kind of “steps” of the box, and they are switched manually by those who drive the car using the selector. Since the process is completely mechanized and requires the direct participation of the driver, the gearbox is called "mechanical".
A manual transmission works in conjunction with a clutch - a mechanism that transmits torque to the wheels and allows you to shift gears as smoothly as possible, without disabling engine speed. Without a clutch, the huge amount of torque that is needed to keep the car moving normally will simply tear the box apart. The clutch is controlled by a pedal located in the driver's footwell, along with the accelerator and brake pedal. The main thing for the driver is to remember that switching speeds to mechanical box gears are always needed only when the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AT START
At the initial stages of training in driving schools, many students enthusiastically get behind the wheel, turn on the ignition, remove the car from the handbrake, turn on the first gear and ... The engine stalls, and the car gets stuck. What causes such an error? Yes, indeed, the algorithm of actions when intending to move the car from a place is as follows: in a car with the ignition already on, the manual transmission knob must switch from neutral to first gear, after fully pressing the clutch pedal - this activates the fuel supply, and the car has the opportunity to move from places. The clutch is then released and the accelerator pedal accelerates the car.
But the problem is that it is for the start that the engine needs to overcome the most large quantity efforts, and if the clutch is released too quickly, the box cannot process the torque, and the motor, accordingly, cannot continue to function, which is why it stops. In order to properly move from a place to a car with, you need to maintain an accurate balance between the clutch and gas pedals. Having pressed the clutch with the first gear engaged, you must then slowly and smoothly press the gas. In the direction of the car, you need to gradually give it acceleration, while pressing the accelerator pedal harder, and slowly, carefully remove your foot from the clutch until it is completely released. When the car starts off, it is recommended to use only first gear for maximum efficiency. It is with its help that the maximum torque is given to the wheels, which will be enough to move the huge mass of the car from its place, and the possibility of stopping the engine when correct operation with pedals is reduced to a minimum. The transmission is switched on with the help of a smooth movement of the selector, as already mentioned, with the clutch fully depressed. You need to start releasing the clutch only when the manual transmission handle is firmly in place of the gear that is used in the current mode. If, when trying to move off, the selector starts to shake so much that vibrations are given to the driver’s hand, and an unpleasant rattle comes from the box itself, the gear has not been fully engaged, and you should immediately stop the car by fully depressing the brake, then pressing the clutch and shifting the box handle gears to neutral. After stopping, you can try again.
IMPORTANT: for driving on snowy or slippery surfaces, it does not hurt to master the skill of starting immediately from second gear. By starting off in this way, the car avoids axle box on the wheels, and, accordingly, the risk of skidding or getting stuck in the snow. The procedure is exactly the same as when starting in first gear, except that you need to lower the clutch and add gas much more slowly. If the clutch is released too sharply, the gear shift will not work correctly. If you repeat this mistake periodically, you can simply burn the clutch.
Switch transmission on time inexperienced driver a tachometer integrated in dashboard car. This device shows at what speed the engine is running in the current mode. Normal for driving in one gear is the interval of 2500-3000 rpm, when the arrow rises above the specified value - you need to turn on next gear. If you constantly go to high speed using a low gear may result in damage and the subsequent need to replace the clutch.
Switching rules from any gear to a higher one are the same:
- the first step is to release the gas pedal and fully squeeze the clutch;
- then you need to put the shift selector in the position corresponding to the desired gear, while still holding the clutch pedal;
- then a smooth pressure on the gas pedal is carried out and, in proportion to the speed with which one foot presses on the accelerator, the other foot, which holds the clutch, gradually releases it.
In most cars with manual transmission after third gear switching take place more imperceptibly, and the clutch can already be released a little faster. However, this does not mean that you can simply abruptly remove your foot from it - this will still lead to malfunctions in the future.
On cars in the sports line, shifting can occur on increased speed, because they are supplied from the factory with a special ceramic or other reinforced clutch.
IMPORTANT: The manual transmission is valued by many drivers for being able to right moment switch to downshift. What does it give:
- the ability to adjust the speed of the car on hazardous areas roads: sharp descent or turn, elevation, etc.;
- allows to carry out safe overtaking other vehicles;
- in case of malfunction brake system With a manual transmission, you can stop the car using engine braking. Such inhibition is carried out by gradual successive
switching downshift to neutral. If the brakes are at least to some extent suitable for work, you need to help with the brake pedal in order to prevent a critical increase in speed and overheating of the internal combustion engine.
As mentioned, the most optimal moment for shifting gears on a manual transmission is when the tachometer needle reaches 2500-3000 rpm. Drivers with little experience often mistakenly believe that by engaging the next gear at a lower speed, they will thus save fuel and reduce its consumption. This opinion is fundamentally wrong - to start with low speed fuel is needed just the opposite, much more. Plus, when shifting at low speeds, traction is partially lost, and steering can become unsafe, especially if it is carried out on uneven, slippery or snow covered road.
To save fuel, the most high gears in mechanical boxes. Most modern models Is it 5th or 6th gear. However, savings occur only with systematic switching, premature upshifting will not reduce fuel consumption, but will only slow down. In this way, you can save on fuel in a car with a manual transmission with constant unhindered movement, for example, along the highway. If you drive within the city at high density traffic flow- it is unlikely that you will have to use a gear over the fourth, and sometimes even the third.
Currently, many drivers with great experience prefer cars equipped with manual transmission. There are reasons for that:
- the lower cost of the car itself with a manual transmission compared to analogues with a machine gun;
- relative ease of maintenance of the mechanical box;
- reduced fuel consumption;
- downshift and engine braking.
Besides, just like that seasoned motorists, in their opinion, can fully control the car, drive it for real.
There are, of course, manual transmission and its disadvantages. After all, despite the trends secondary market, meet new car with mechanics - already rather a rarity than a regularity. main reason, according to which an increasing number of car owners prefer automatic manual mode– comfort. For many, especially those who are buying a car for the first time, it is important to focus on what is happening on the road in difficult situations, or enjoy the car in long journey instead of constantly pulling the handle and thinking how to switch correctly transmission, distracting from the driving itself. However, even automatic transmissions for the most part provide for a transition to manual control mode, albeit with a simpler algorithm and no need for independent clutch control.
Those who still choose time-tested manual transmissions need to be extremely careful when shifting gears in order to keep all mechanisms in working order for as long as possible.
Beginners, when the car first leaves the road, usually face 2 problems: smooth starting and. In fact, both processes occur in the same way - in both cases, the gearshift lever, gas pedal and clutch are activated. However, these stages have their own nuances. And in order to figure out how to properly switch gears on a car, today we will devote a separate article to this.
At what point in which transmission to include?
First you need to understand at what point you need to switch from to increased. The tachometer, speedometer and, of course, the sound of the engine always help us in this. On the noisiness of the latter we special attention We will not pay attention, but on the readings of arrow scales - just the opposite. The question of when and how to shift gears on a car is really not difficult. If the tachometer needle has left the green scale and slowly begins to turn red, then we switch to an upshift. For convenience, you can use the speedometer. In this case:
Some cars have a sixth gear. In this case, you should focus not only on the speedometer readings, but also on the tachometer needle. The principle is the same: when the value goes beyond the green scale (here you will just feel the characteristic roar of the motor), we turn on the increased speed. And switching from high to low occurs in the same way, only in reverse order. If the speed decreases, and the tachometer needle goes beyond the green scale to idling, then it's time to engage the clutch and shift gears.
How to change speed in a car?
We have already figured out at what point which gears need to be included. Now let's move on to the second aspect - the rules for switching gearboxes. In fact, the question of how to switch speed on a car is also not difficult, you just need to understand the algorithm of actions. And it consists in such stages:
- We release the gas and gently press on the clutch. It is important that switching off the first and pressing the second pedal occurs with a minimum of waiting. In practice, you will catch this moment.
- We translate the gearshift lever according to the diagram drawn at the top of the handle to the desired position. But before changing the speed on the machine, you must first move the handle to the neutral position and after 1 second turn on the desired gear. This is done in order to reduce the load on the transmission gears.
- Then slowly release the clutch and press on the gas a little.
- After you have completely released the clutch, increase the pressure on the right pedal.
- Continue driving until the next gearshift.
At this stage, the question of how to properly switch speed on a car can be considered closed.
And finally little secret: You can switch gearshift modes without following the sequence. That is, when the car braked sharply, it is not necessary to pull the handle from fifth to fourth, then to third and second gears. Feel free to turn on the desired speed - the main thing is to be in the green scale.
Most drivers with great experience and experience consider automatic transmissions unreliable and uneconomical. In some ways, they are still right, although, today, automatic boxes gears not only reached the parameters of mechanical counterparts, but were able to surpass them. However, automatic transmissions are much more expensive, making the manual a leader in the mass segment. A manual transmission is good in all respects, and its only drawback is the inconvenience to use. For this reason, novice motorists are often interested in how to change gears correctly on the mechanics at start-up and while driving. In fact, the operating system mechanical transmission not difficult if you follow certain rules.
To vehicle start moving, you need to turn on the gear, and then open the fuel supply in sufficient volume to accelerate. In appearance, everything is quite simple - we squeeze the clutch, turn on first gear and gas. But when the car starts moving, it has to overcome the greatest efforts, as a result of this, very often the engine stalls, leading the motorist to bewilderment. The essence of this situation is that right time simultaneously and smoothly squeeze the gas and clutch pedals, only then the vehicle will move off without problems.
Clutch and throttle balance rules
Lever movements should be smooth, without sudden efforts to overcome natural resistances, and you need to shift gears only after the clutch pedal is depressed. Every driver should be aware that with sudden movements of the gear lever, when quickly lifting the foot from the clutch, and also when applying excess fuel, the transmission can fail, resulting in either costly repairs or complete replacement mechanism.
Start from first gear
Undoubtedly, we are not talking about the operation of the pedals, but about the use of a mechanical transmission. Professionals advise starting from a dry and clean surface pavement using first gear, as it transmits a very high torque to the wheels, which gives minimal chances that the engine will stall. If the checkpoint publishes strange and unpleasant sounds with a sharp movement of resistance, you should return the manual transmission lever to the neutral position, release the clutch pedal, depress it again and try again. When you turn on the required step, for one moment there will be a decrease in the force on the lever, after which its movement will be stopped, as a result of a collision at the end of the groove with the limiter.
Start from second gear
In addition, it is advisable to learn how to start from second gear, especially during winter and frost, as this method will protect your vehicle from wheel slip and will not allow the car to immediately skid or bury its wheels in the snow. The use of second gear at the start is not much different from the first. At manual transmission second gear should be selected, but the balance of the clutch and gas pedals should be finer to avoid high stress on the power unit.
Gearshift by tachometer
When driving a car, it is very important to know at what exact moment it is necessary to switch gears in order to reduce fuel consumption, to achieve normal dynamics, and also to prevent transmission malfunctions. Quite often you can find recommendations that advise at a specific speed to select a specific gear. However, such a rule is absolutely wrong, since an individual vehicle differs in its power level and specific gear ratios.
Inexperienced motorists can be advised to focus their attention on the tachometer, since for many cars the engine's economic operation zone is located in the approximate range of 2500-3500 rpm. When driving a car at such a frequency of rotation of the crankshaft, do not take the lever. For example, on sports cars having high speed engines, correct switching transfers can be completely different. Therefore, professionals do not advise saving and undergoing special driving training. fast cars offered by most dealers.
When the speed increases, it is necessary to change the step to a higher one, while fully depressing the clutch pedal and observing necessary rules precautions when moving the lever. We do the same in the event of a drop in speed, only we change the gear to a lower one. It is advisable to switch stages in stages and apply each gear during acceleration. It is certainly possible to skip one or two gears, but in doing so, it is important to remember to use the clutch with extreme care so as not to damage the gearbox shafts.
When to turn on the reduced stage
The main advantage of a mechanical transmission is that it allows you to prepare for a variety of difficulties. In the rules for using a manual transmission, it is established to lower the stage in the following cases:
1. If you are approaching a steep climb.
2. If you are driving down a dangerous slope.
3. If you are overtaking another vehicle.
4. If there is a sharp turn ahead of you.
If it is impossible to use the service brake system, in particular when you are driving on a slippery surface or on a steep slope, it is necessary to apply engine braking. In this case, you need to completely release the gas pedal, gradually changing gears to lower ones, until the vehicle reaches optimum speed. Do not over-rev the engine. Also, attempts to help the transmission with a service brake are not welcome, if possible.
Switching speed according to the sound of the engine
Experienced motorists quite often determine when to change gear by ear - by the sound of the engine. However, for this, you just need to get used to the car. The greatest professionalism is shifting gears according to the sensations of the reaction of the vehicle - the driver is able to assess how quickly the car accelerates when he presses the gas and reaches the desired speed, changes gear, thereby improving the dynamics of the vehicle. To do this, you must have a huge experience and habit of a particular car.
Economy mode of operation
The most economical for a car is considered to be in the range of 2500-3500 rpm. To reduce fuel costs, professionals advise choosing just such a mode when driving evenly at high or medium speeds. Many motorists believe that if you quickly shift to higher gears and keep the crankshaft speed in the range of 1000-1500 rpm, then fuel consumption will decrease. Actually it is not. In order to accelerate from low revs, the car needs much more fuel, and it will be much more difficult for a motorist to react correctly to unexpected situations.
In order to understand how to shift gears correctly, you need to know which assembly modern mechanical gearboxes use. Usually, fifth, sixth, and in some vehicles, seventh gears are installed specifically to reduce fuel consumption. most high speed can be achieved using fifth or fourth gear, depending on their number. If you overdrive prematurely, this will not lead to a decrease in fuel consumption, but to a drop in speed. I would also like to say that the use of the highest steps in the city is not at all justified, since they were created for uniform driving on country roads.
To avoid premature failure of the manual transmission, rapid wear clutch and engine, do not make sudden movements with the lever, properly balance the pedals and avoid slipping and sharp impacts. In order to reduce fuel consumption, you need to keep the engine speed in the optimal range all the time. With the help of a manual transmission, engine braking is possible, which will protect you from getting into dangerous situation. If you master the rules of gear shifting, you will be able to completely control your vehicle, achieve good dynamics, lower costs and complete safety.
