- Always press the clutch when shifting to avoid gear misalignment and clutch wear
- Don’t rock the car in first gear at stops; it causes heavy clutch wear
- Don’t stay in first gear when stopped; shift to neutral and brake
- Park with gear engaged (reverse or first) and set handbrake; avoid resting hand on lever
When we talk about a manual transmission, the failures that can occur due to the driver are more numerous than in automatic gearboxes. Whether you’re learning to drive a car or switching from an automatic to a manual, it’s very easy to develop bad habits, and once you start off poorly, correcting them becomes even harder.
If we do not use the manual gearbox properly, we can end up with transmission components broken or a faulty clutch, which quickly leads to more problems and most likely we won’t be able to use the car. In this article we present five of the most common bad habits drivers should drop when it comes to a car with a manual transmission.
The biggest mistake when driving a manual transmission
This move is essential if we want to ensure that we can continue driving and not tear the gearbox apart into tens of pieces. If we do not press the clutch pedal, even if we manage to shift gears, we will misalign the gear teeth and ruin the clutch components.
A second common scenario
A second situation that often occurs with beginner drivers is rocking the car back and forth when waiting at a traffic light or in a queue while the shifter is in first gear. If we are in traffic and stopped, we engage first gear and move forward about one meter, then disengage and the car rolls back and we repeat this process without accelerating, only lifting the foot off the clutch; this will cause the car to oscillate. This kind of procedure leads to a very high wear rate on the clutch and it will fail very quickly.
A mistake most drivers make
A mistake most drivers make is leaving the car in first gear when they are in traffic and stopped. Every time we stop at a red light or in a queue, we take the car out of gear and press the brake. Otherwise, we will wear the clutch and transmission parts much faster, and it could fail at any moment.
Another situation observed among manual transmission drivers
Another common situation among manual transmission drivers is that when parking, the car is left out of gear. It is essential that when parking we put the gear lever into reverse or first gear, similar to the parking position on automatics. If the handbrake malfunctions, you will ensure your car stays in place.
One last situation, perhaps a bit unusual
Even though it may seem odd, the weight of the driver’s hand on the gear lever can contribute to wear by affecting the transmission components and shortening their lifespan.
Abandoning these very common habits among most drivers can be quite difficult, but it is very important. The clutch system and gearbox components are not inexpensive, and a failure of one of them while driving can cause major headaches. That said, it is advisable to drop these habits as soon as possible and take proper care of your car’s transmission.
