How to Drive a Manuel

Hi, my name is Daniel Randall. I am an automotive technician,

and I have been driving manual for most of my life. Not many people drive a manual anymore. Only 18% of people in America drive manual or know even how to drive a manual. Today I’m going to be showing you how to drive a manual. Be that person that stands out and knows how to drive a manual.

Step 1: Supplies Needed

Only thing need for this is a manual vehicle. If there is not one available found one and use it. If a friend or family member has one that would be better.

Step 2: Neutral

The car is going to be in first gear. Get the vehicle started by first go into neutral on the shifter or knob. Neutral is where it is in no gears and is free to move left and right.

Step 3: Brake and Clutch

After getting into, push the brake and clutch pedal to the left of the brake all the way down until it can’t go any further. To the point of where it stops is where it can’t go any future. Remember how much it goes in for future reference.

Step 4: Starting Up

From there turn the key until it is all the way turned starting the car. Keep in mind to keep holding the clutch pedal and the brake pedal all the way down. If the clutch pedal is not all the way down, it will not start.

Step 5: Reverse

Now that it’s started let’s move onto the next step. Keep the clutch pedal all the way down. This is a big thing to remember is to always push the clutch pedal all the way down for any shift or anything related to shifting the knob or shifter. From there go into reverse. Reverse is located to the all the way to the right on then down. Make sure it in the reverse gear all the way so that that car will move backwards.

Step 6: Moving the Vehicle Backwards

Once in the reverse gear, slowly release the clutch until you feel the car start to move. When you feel the car is moving. Keep the car right on 1000 rpm or 1 on the dash gauge in front of you, the gauge or dial is located to the left of the mph gauge. How to keep it there, slowly push the gas pedal located to the right of the brake pedal giving it gas slowly releasing the clutch pedal.

Step 7: Stopping From Moving Backwards

When building up speed release the clutch all the way. Don’t release it to fast if you do the car will bounce and hurt the vehicle then push clutch all the way down. To stop the vehicle pushing the brake to stop along with the clutch pedal all the way down.

Step 8: First Gear

To drive forward with the gears 1-5. To get to first gear keep the clutch pressed in all the way. Take it out of reverse and go up into neutral go up and all the way to the left and up again into first gear all while still having the clutch down all the way. Also make sure it is all the way in gear.

Step 9: Moving Forward

To move the car, it’s going to be the same as reverse. When in first gear slowly release the clutch until you feel the car start to move. When you feel the vehicle is moving keep it right on 1000 rpm or 1 on the dash gauge in front. Slowly push the gas pedal located to the right of the brake pedal giving it slowly releasing the clutch pedal. Don’t give it to much gas as it will hurt the engine. Doing so can cause many problems. As the vehicle starts to build up speed release the clutch all the way. Don’t release it to fast if done, the car will bounce and hurt the vehicle.

Step 10: Shifting

Once the stick reaches the 2 on the rpm gauge, let off the gas all the way and push the clutch pedal down all the way. From there shift straight down into second which is right under first gear. Slowly release the clutch and giving it a little gas. With doing that, the car rpms gauge should be kept between 1 and 2.5 to save more gas. Don’t give any more as it will again hurt the vehicle. This step is the same in all gears 1-5.

Step 11: Quick Tip

Do not let the car drop below .7 rpm’s, this will kill the vehicle turning it off. To keep it above .7 rpms downshift into the gear blow the gear that it is in. So like say it was in 5th gear downshift into 4th gear or from 4th to 3rd and so on, or just keep giving it gas keeping it above .7 rpm’s.

Step 12: Full Forward Stop

To stop the car and to come to full stop. Push the clutch all the way down. Put the car in neutral keeping the clutch pushed all the way down. Once in neutral push the clutch all the way down and push on the brake until the vehicle comes to a slow complete stop.

Step 13: Moving From a Stop

To move the vehicle, keep the clutch down all the way move the knob or shifter to first and slowly release the clutch until you feel it move, giving the vehicle gas keeping the vehicle at 1 rpm slowly releasing the clutch giving it more, using all the steps shown 7-9.

Step 14: Parking and Turning Off Vehicle

To park the vehicle, it is the same as stopping the vehicle once in the parking spot it as the same as a stop but keep the clutch in and put it into 1st gear keeping the clutch down. Turn the vehicle off with the vehicle in gear. Once the vehicle is off, set parking brake or e brake all the way then let off the clutch and you are now parked.