Driving with manual transmission questions

Haven’t read the whole thread. Shifting a standard isn’t about ramming through the gears as quickly as you can…not that I’m saying you’re doing that. If you’re at all musical, think of it as keeping 4/4 time. Coordinate clutch in gas out. Out of gear, feel the gate, not rushing through it. Gently into gear. Coordinate clutch out, on the gas.

And this one might seem a little weird, but cemeteries are a great place to practice. Little to no traffic. Depending on where you’re located, might have some gentle rolling slopes to practice hill starts.

 

The parking lot is a good place you can learn to feel the clutch engagement point, find uphill and downhill spots to park in. Try not to run over lines, first gear will go real slow before stalling the truck, get off the clutch as soon as you can. The only way to learn how to drive a stick shift, is to drive a stick shift, it’s all feel.

 

This is a skill that can be crucial if your clutch goes out and you want to drive it home. I’ve been there.

 

Yep, learnt this one whilst doing my apprenticeship when recovering clients cars with bust clutches.

 

Practice makes perfect. You'll get the hang of it. Don't be afraid of hurting it either, these little engines like to rev a little higher (already suggested). One thing I noticed with newer drivers of manual transmission (wife also that hadn't driven one in awhile) is that theres not this huge H pattern to it as you might think. It will kind of find it's way.

 

Thank you! Glad to be here. Yeah, definitely seem to be a resounding opinion to shift later for 1st to 2nd.. been shifting earlier most of the time. Will have to test it out. And makes sense it may be the syncros.. i'm probably not being patient enough even though I think I am. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks for the hype! lol I will say the engine getting loud is a part of my problem, especially in 1st. After about 2k it starts getting obnoxiously loud and feel like I NEED to shift.. but like you say, it's different than the auto in that case and takes some getting used to.

Thanks!

For sure am musical, definitely have to learn the coordination and timing of everything. Not weird... I found a terribly kept parking lot that has some slopes in it to practice dealing with rolling lol

Thanks!

Interesting.. I try to guide it more than do strict movements. Thanks for the diagram! lol

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I did not know that was a thing - I'd like a discarded accumulator to experiment with, I'll like to try to "fix" it without all the tedious plumbing.

 

See the 1st Post in the thread. I started with a brake line elbow and was wanting to get rid of my rigged up safety wire, so I just swapped in a modded (dremeled) accumulator. It looks identical to stock and works like a champ. I also used the opportunity to put some Noico on the heat shield as it is said to reduce some of the driveline clanking noises.


Not mine, but more or less what I did:

 

Since you got the sport, it has the hill hold feature where when you clutch in on a hill it'll keep the truck from rolling back for roughly 3 seconds or so. This is dead useful especially because people tend to ride our bumpers way too closely.

Eh.... Do not do this in your truck. It's a good skill to have but your clutch also won't just give up randomly. You'll know if it's ever having issues well before it gives up the ghost. Unless you're dumping it into third at 80 mph in which case, see ya

Also

The adm (what @tonered is talking about) makes the truck feel like a whole new beast.

Fantastic buy, and welcome to the forum!

 

Of course I'm an excellent artist
Spoken like Rain Man.

 

You don't know anyone over 40? Just cause they don't drive a manual now doesn't mean they don't have years of experience.

 

Well i'm 23 and live in the middle of no where. I imagine *someone* knows but I am far from anyone I know personally.. like fam/friends. I could ask around with my coworkers but I also feel like a pain in the ass at that point ;p

 

You could take a driving lesson. It may be well spent $$$. No shame in learning from a ‘pro’

 

I've looked for lessons and even posted an ad a few months ago... no luck.

 

@Nuova

your struggles were similar to mine. specifically, the 1-2 shift, general consistent clutch feel, and power access. i recommend two specific things to put the feeling in your hands and feet to start, and you can do more to improve it all later if you want. but to start i recommend the ADM and get the Coyoza tune installed. that will get you able to learn and enjoy it quickly.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/coyoza-tune-development-and-feedback.719707/

 

Lol, you are in the middle of nowhere… that Ontario group sounds like it may be your best bet… offer someone a six pack.

People have mentioned lots of good things. Timing, muscle memory and practice are key. Get out and drive…

Are you a mechanical person? It may help to understand what’s going on when you press that clutch pedal… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=devo3kdSPQY

 

I'm more or less self taught. Bought my first car, a brand new 1991 Honda Civic DX 5-speed when I was 17 years old. My dad rode around with me for an hour at the most. Wasn't the most fruitful learning experience. He hadn't driven a manual in 30+ years. Lots of steep hills with stop signs in the part of ON I'm from. Got the clutch good and hot and stinky more times than I care to remember. Eventually, I got the hang of it, and the clutch lasted the 9 years that I owned that car. And I drove stick for the following 26 years. Be patient with yourself. Practice at every opportunity. Allow yourself to make mistakes. You'll be a pro, and able to teach others before you know it.

 

I love how everyone's story of learning a manual is so completely different.

In my case, we had two friends in high school, one had a Ford focus with a toughest clutch in town, almost took two feet to push the damn thing down, the other one had a Dodge neon where you needed to keep one foot under the clutch so it wouldn't fall and leave the car hanging in neutral. Both were terrible yet great learning experiences.

Got to "relearn" on my 95 Pathfinder, no starter, $500 Craigslist gem.... Man I miss that damn thing

 

The second MT that I got to drive was a friend's 80's LeMans. He was trying to mess around in the back seat while we were driving around our podunk town, all quite buzzed. I kept stalling, upsetting the mood for swapping spit. Ended up handing off the chauffer duties to whoever was in the right seat. They ended up married, so it must not have too bad of a ride.

 

Thanks! The ADM seems to be popular here. Ill check it out

Yeah, maybe. I've definitely got a bit of mechanical inclination from work and those videos do help. I've watched a couple.

Self taught is definitely a character building experience.. lol I usually take a sniff around the front on my walk away from the truck and fortunately haven't smelled the clutch since the first ride home. Most of the stop signs I deal with here are on an incline. Quite fun. Lol glad to know your clutch survived the abuse!!

Oh my lol thrown into the fire

Omg that's a good story lmao