Clutching at stoplights...
08-02-2010, 02:40 PM
#29
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1st 3.82 reverse 3.60.
08-02-2010, 02:44 PM
#30
This has turned into two questions. 1) In gear at a red light? 2) in gear when parked?
1) I put it in neutral at red lights until moments before the light will turn green.
-I dont want to hold the clutch in for 1-3+ minutes.
-For those people that want to escape a possible accident, that logic falls apart once traffic is stopped behind you, or if traffic is moving through the intersection. If traffic is stopped, who are you trying to escape? If traffic is moving in the intersection, are you really going to drive into a side impact collision instead of getting rear ended? Thats genious.
- If you have it in gear and someone taps your (under 5 MPH) there is a good chance you could let go of the clutch and now you are driving into the intersection to get nailed in the door. Again, genious.
- Someone else mentioned it, your foot can slip off when trying to get something from the back seat and you stall the engine, or worse you release the brake too and know your getting drilled from the side.
Point is that your odds of avoiding an accident are much lower then getting into one. Risk vs Gain.
2) I always park the car and put the transmission in gear. Usually 2nd or 3rd gear. But dont expect a rotary engine to keep your car from rolling down a hill if you forget to set your ebrake.
1) I put it in neutral at red lights until moments before the light will turn green.
-I dont want to hold the clutch in for 1-3+ minutes.
-For those people that want to escape a possible accident, that logic falls apart once traffic is stopped behind you, or if traffic is moving through the intersection. If traffic is stopped, who are you trying to escape? If traffic is moving in the intersection, are you really going to drive into a side impact collision instead of getting rear ended? Thats genious.
- If you have it in gear and someone taps your (under 5 MPH) there is a good chance you could let go of the clutch and now you are driving into the intersection to get nailed in the door. Again, genious.
- Someone else mentioned it, your foot can slip off when trying to get something from the back seat and you stall the engine, or worse you release the brake too and know your getting drilled from the side.
Point is that your odds of avoiding an accident are much lower then getting into one. Risk vs Gain.
2) I always park the car and put the transmission in gear. Usually 2nd or 3rd gear. But dont expect a rotary engine to keep your car from rolling down a hill if you forget to set your ebrake.
08-02-2010, 02:51 PM
#33
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dont you wear out the throwout bearings if you leave the car in gear?
my bearings blew up halfway from los angeles to san francisco and i had to drive up there without a clutch, and ended up having to replace fly wheel too
my bearings blew up halfway from los angeles to san francisco and i had to drive up there without a clutch, and ended up having to replace fly wheel too
08-02-2010, 02:54 PM
#35
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Some of us do not like to be pushed around by the "put it in gear when you park" crowd. Owner's manuals tell you to put it in gear when you park...and none of us ever believe what the manufacturers say. 
Unless there's a specific reason to stay in gear (e.g., bad neighborhood) you should put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch when waiting at a red light. That's a lot of wear time on the throwout bearing.
If you begrudge the time necessary to step on the clutch and put it back in gear when the light turns green, consider that you should pause anyway to make sure that the cross traffic has actually stopped.
Ken
Unless there's a specific reason to stay in gear (e.g., bad neighborhood) you should put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch when waiting at a red light. That's a lot of wear time on the throwout bearing.
If you begrudge the time necessary to step on the clutch and put it back in gear when the light turns green, consider that you should pause anyway to make sure that the cross traffic has actually stopped.
Ken
08-02-2010, 04:23 PM
#38
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I leave it in neutral at a light, as mentioned no reason to put unecesssary wear and tear on the clutch. The only time I might keep it in gear is if Im first in line at the light.
Heres another one for you guys: I have heard to keep your hand off the shifter when waiting at a light to prevent wearing out the shift gates by unconsiously putting pressure on them.
Heres another one for you guys: I have heard to keep your hand off the shifter when waiting at a light to prevent wearing out the shift gates by unconsiously putting pressure on them.
08-02-2010, 07:05 PM
#39
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Yeah...it's a good idea to keep your hand off the shifter when not actually shifting. You can put extra wear on the shift forks. If you keep your hand on the shifter while driving, that means you only have one hand on the wheel.
Also, don't rest your foot on the clutch pedal when not shifting.
Ken
Also, don't rest your foot on the clutch pedal when not shifting.
Ken
08-03-2010, 05:53 AM
#40
gear it according to the incline or decline where you park. I know from experience parking brakes do fail. A guy hit my 1958 with his grand prix. He left the car running and ran inside his house for what I dunno I never asked. But his parking brake failed and his car rolled right into mine busting out the front left headlight. It was all body damage but it pushed the headlight into the fender. Not fun or cheap to have a body fixed that has lead paint.
Last edited by DocBeech; 08-03-2010 at 05:56 AM.
08-03-2010, 08:58 AM
#41
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Thank goodness the crossing guard (directly employed by the NYPD) witnessed everything, or I might have gotten fucked. Of course, the guy who hit me had no insurance or valid license.
08-03-2010, 09:08 AM
#42
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Some of us do not like to be pushed around by the "put it in gear when you park" crowd. Owner's manuals tell you to put it in gear when you park...and none of us ever believe what the manufacturers say.
Unless there's a specific reason to stay in gear (e.g., bad neighborhood) you should put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch when waiting at a red light. That's a lot of wear time on the throwout bearing.
If you begrudge the time necessary to step on the clutch and put it back in gear when the light turns green, consider that you should pause anyway to make sure that the cross traffic has actually stopped.
Ken
Unless there's a specific reason to stay in gear (e.g., bad neighborhood) you should put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch when waiting at a red light. That's a lot of wear time on the throwout bearing.
If you begrudge the time necessary to step on the clutch and put it back in gear when the light turns green, consider that you should pause anyway to make sure that the cross traffic has actually stopped.
Ken
Unless I know the light is changing soon I never sit on the clutch.
08-03-2010, 09:14 AM
#43
FTMF Truth - Last time I got rear ended I barely missed being pushed into a kid because the gearbox held me long enough to gain my senses and hit the brakes. Missed the poor kid by an inch and he collapsed on my hood. (I didn't touch him, but he pee'd himself and wanted to hide lol.)
Thank goodness the crossing guard (directly employed by the NYPD) witnessed everything, or I might have gotten fucked. Of course, the guy who hit me had no insurance or valid license.
Thank goodness the crossing guard (directly employed by the NYPD) witnessed everything, or I might have gotten fucked. Of course, the guy who hit me had no insurance or valid license.
08-03-2010, 09:30 AM
#44
I'm also a part of the "put it in neutral at a stop" crowd. I always heard it was bad on the throwout bearing as well, so I try not to idle with the clutch in for very long. Besides, with the history of our clutch pedal brackets, the less stress on the bracket, the better.
As far as parking, I really don't know why somebody wouldn't put it in gear. I've had a couple instances where I jumped out of the car and forgot to set the brake and my car just rolled away from me, even though I thought I was on a flat surface
. So as long as I don't have a brain fart, I always put it in gear.
08-03-2010, 09:47 AM
#45
Put it into neutral at a stop, unless I will be moving within a few seconds.
Even with automatic transmissions, I put it into neutral at a stop. It has become second nature to do so. I did find VW's to be annoying with my habit though. When I drove the ex's MKV Jetta, it would always have a neutral -> drive safety lock after coming to a stop for two seconds, I would have to step on the brake to unlock it.
Even with automatic transmissions, I put it into neutral at a stop. It has become second nature to do so. I did find VW's to be annoying with my habit though. When I drove the ex's MKV Jetta, it would always have a neutral -> drive safety lock after coming to a stop for two seconds, I would have to step on the brake to unlock it.
08-04-2010, 07:59 AM
#47
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Imagine just releasing the clutch as fast as possible with a car that has a decent amount of torque (VW GLi - 209lbs) AND slamming the brakes -- you'd get the idea. I swear I broke something because gear changes would sound rattly after that...haha.
I also don't hold the brake on level surfaces a lot of the time. Bad habit, I know...but it's one of those perks of driving a manual.
08-04-2010, 09:00 AM
#48
replace the clutch often? id rather destroy a throwout bearing than a transmission. Which I have never been able to do. Even with the heaviest of pressure plates. Your talking about a bearing the same size as a wheel bearing that doesn't have near the load....
08-04-2010, 09:58 AM
#49
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put mine in reverse at lights. It keeps people from getting too close.
this still surpises me. in gear when parked, period. people don't park auto's in neutral. what if your ebrake fails, why not have it in hear to prevent it from rolling!!
