Driving changes & test?

Question

Hi

Im learning to drive in a car, i took my test just under a week ago & failed, since then my Driving instructer has got a new car the old was a diesel & new petrol the clutch is weird i hvaing some trouble with it & keeping slow on manurves. any help?

Answer 1

Every car feels different. Clutches have different "friction points"(the point where the vehicle wants to TUG forward)....when you find this "friction point", hold the clutch position steady, releasing the service brake, allowing your vehicle to begin moving forward (in first gear of course)......

when your left foot quickly and fully depresses the clutch to shift up to second gear, your right foot should be off the gas......this can occur in a new vehicle at approx. 2,000 rpm..(you will use less gas and put less emissions of pollutants into the environment too)..in older vehicles, you may need a higher rpm (2500-3000)........when you have to slow down again, you first come off the gas, then press lightly on the brake with your right foot, and then, when your rpm's are at approx. 1,000 rpm, you fully and quickly depress your clutch, and continue to brake to a gentle stop. So, it's "SLOWLY" off the clutch always, then gas..........like a see-saw motion with your feet.....when you are stopping, it's off the gas, brake, then clutch and brake to a stop........always shift down BEFORE turns (to 2nd gear usually when in urban areas). When entering high speed roads and merging, your rpms should be higher in each gear to bring you up to highway speeds quickly..........3,000 - 4,000 rpm's......this of course depends on the size of your engine......if you don't have a tachometer (rpm indicator), then listen to the "labouring" of your engine......you'll get to "feel" this after you have a few hours behind the wheel.

When backing, or driving into  or out of a confined space such as a garage, you should use that "friction point" on your clutch to move slowly..in other words, hover on and off that "friction point",..and never let the clutch all the way out or you will move too quickly and might hit something.....

I hope this helps.....

Answer 2

Step 1:

Look at the floorboard; you'll see 3 pedals. From left to right, they are: clutch, brake, gas.

Step 2:

Study the simple diagram on the top of the gearshift, which will show you where the gears are. In most new cars, this will look like a three-legged H. First, third and fifth gears are at the tops of the legs; second, fourth and reverse gears are at the bottoms. The crossbar of the H is neutral.

Step 3:

Make sure the parking brake is engaged and the car is on a flat surface in an area where you have plenty of room.

Step 4:

Press down on the clutch pedal and then move the gearshift into the neutral position.

Step 5:

Start the car.

Step 6:

Keeping the clutch pedal down, put the car into first gear by moving the gearshift to the top-left position.

Step 7:

Apply the foot brake and release the parking brake.

Step 8:

Release the foot brake when you're ready to start moving.

Step 9:

Begin to release the clutch pedal slowly; when you hear or feel the engine begin to slow down, slowly press down on the gas pedal as you continue to release the clutch. The car will start to move forward.

Step 10:

Accelerate until the car has reached about 3,000 rpm, then take your foot off the gas, press down on the clutch pedal, and pull the gearshift directly down through neutral to second gear. Be sure to pull the gearshift down until it can't go any farther.

Step 11:

Release the clutch pedal gently, simultaneously pressing down gently on the gas pedal.

Step 12:

Repeat the shifting process each time you hit 3,000 rpm until you're driving at the appropriate speed. (Third gear is up and to the right; fourth gear is all the way down from there; fifth gear is up to neutral, right and then up again.)

Step 13:

Downshift by releasing the gas pedal when you want to decrease your speed. Press down on the clutch and move the gearshift through neutral into the next-lower gear (move down only 1 gear at a time). Once you're in the lower gear, release the clutch slowly and brake as you do so.

Step 14:

Stop the car by downshifting to second gear and applying the brakes. Apply the clutch just before the car stops. Don't downshift into first.

Step 15:

Drive in reverse by following the same steps you would for starting in first gear. The reverse gear engages more quickly than first gear, however, so be sure to release the clutch slowly and begin to press the gas pedal as soon as the car begins to move.

Answer 3

It always takes a while to get used to a different vehicle. The procedure is the same and you already know that you can do it.

Clutch down all the way. Palm gear lever into first. Set gas, approx double the tick over revs. Bring clutch up slowly, the thickness of a pound coin at a time until bonnet rises. Keep your feet still and release handbrake.

For slow manouveres once you have found biting point keep gas pedal still and let clutch up or down only a couple of millimetres. Think of the thickness of a pound coin.

Remember that you can do it, its just a different vehicle so you need a little familiarisation.