Question on driving a manual

This is the first manual I've ever owned, and I'm still getting used to some different things. The weirdest thing I've noticed though, is that sometimes when the car is off I can move the shifter in and out of gear without pushing in the clutch, but other times not. Is it normal for it to only do it sometimes?
The reason I'm asking is because I like to start the truck up for it to warm up without having to get in and depressing the clutch to start it (I have the clutch start/cancel button or w/e its called).
That reminds me of another question actually, when starting with the clutch start cancel button do I need the car in neutral? Cuz I always have it in neutral when I use it because it seems like I'd stall it or it wouldn't even start if I tried it in first. Thanks!

 

The Clutch Start Cancel isn't meant for normal everyday starting, read you owners manual. I am not sure about the truck not going into gear when off though, mine has never done that.

 

clutch start cancel you always have to be in neutral to use and i wouldn't use it every morning. My truck will go to neutral when the truck is off without the clutch but thats about it

 

As far as sometime it'll go into gear and some times not- If the gears are lined up when everything stops spinning- It'll slip in and out of gear. You can do the same thing with it running (altho I wouldn't). You don't NEED the clutch...it just makes the truck that much easier to drive.

Clutch Start Cancel will cause your truck to lurch and stall if you use it with the transmission in gear. That is kinda the point of the feature- because Sunner is right...It's not for everyday starting but for a specific purpose. (Altho I have used it to start up on occasion)

 

Going into or out of gear can also depend on the "preload" of the trannie. For example, if you park and then the truck rolls a tiny amount and stops then pressure is put on the transmission and this would make shifting more difficult.
This is why they recommend setting the emergency brake first. No biggy either way. You will get the hang of it and your shifting will smooth out as you gain more experience over the years. Concentrate on being smooth and the rest will take care of its self.

 

There is no reason not to use the clutch start button for startup-warmup.
I do it every morning.
If you forget to take the car out of gear before trying to start it, it may start in gear and run over whatever is in front of it and keep on going.
Not a good thing.

 

Alright thanks guys, appreciate the responses. I won't be using that daily anymore I guess, but its still kind of strange to me how it only moves from first into neutrual sometime. Sounds like its normal though!

 

haah just pictured doing this

 

The reason they have you put the clutch in is because back in the day it wasn't needed and people would start up their car in gear. That would cause it to jump forward. With the clutch in, it's a safety feature.

Being able to put your truck in Neutral from any gear is normal with any manual that I have driven. I will do that when coasting to a stop. I'll just pop it into Neutral without clutch as I'm approaching the light or sign. Has never hurt the tranny. Same with moving in through the gears with the engine off. Nothing is spinning so there is nothing being hurt.

Don't worry, as long as you aren't using clutch cancel all of the time you will be fine. Just takes some getting used to.

 

not hard, its just convienent not to have to get into the truck multiple times between starting it and putting all my shit behind the seat (ok only twice )

 

For future reference

http://bit.ly/wEye1R

 

Think about it....it's easier to pull meshed gears apart than to re-engage them.
Hence, when there's no (or little) pressure on the trans it's easy to shift out of gear but more precise alignment is required to get back into gear.

It's all very logical.

 

Think that's funny ?
You're next

I never hit anything (and it does happen) but a friend of mine put his Dad's Jeep through the garage door one time, when he was a kid.
Can't remember if I laughed, prolly did.

 

i use that clutch/cancel button everyday i'm to lazy to push the pedal in apparently.

why is this bad? so long as the trucks in neutral it should be fine.

 

I've been told to read the manual why its bad...sooo when I get off work I'll read it and let you know

 

if it was bad my truck wouldn't move by this point seeing as i do it every time i start the vehicle. i didn't think it was a problem and i still don't unless i read otherwise in the owners manual.

but, the truck needs to be in neutral obviously. other wise it will hop on you as the clutch/cancel button is what i believe to be just a bypass for an otherwise active safety feature.

i read the manual before but, never about this particular feature i will now though just to make sure.


i can say honestly that with your admitted lack of experience driving a standard transmission you should probably just push the clutch in fully when starting to avoid any nasty or embarrassing mishaps. it will also help you get into the habit of doing it everytime.

 

Hmm, I guess you've never dealt with snow and ice on your truck.

If you think the OP is bad, I never push in my clutch to start. I have a remote starter which disables the requirement to clutch in to start.

 

only 3 and a half hours until I can read the manual to find out if it's bad or not

 

The Clutch Cancel feature is designed for a very specific purpose. I can't say whether or not it will fail prematurely if you use it every day.

It's designed to help you get a boost while starting your vehicle on a hill. It uses the starter to lurch the vehicle forward and avoid rolling back, then you just hit the gas and keep driving. Of course if you're in neutral, it won't do anything other than just bypass the clutch safety switch.

I use mine on occasion if I'm chatting with buddies outside of the truck and I just want to warm it up, for example. But I always leave my truck in neutral with the park brake applied. And as a force of habit, I always verify that it's in neutral before I start it anyways.

When I was younger and just learning how to drive on my mom's manual, I jumped in it once to pull it out of the garage. Didn't realise that she always parked it in gear. Ended up leaping it into the deep freezer in front of it