How do L-drivers start a car? (Not a joke!!!)
Discussion
My wife wants to learn to drive. She insists on me teaching her at leats a little before she has some formal lessons. I'd prefer it the other way around, but I just do what I'm told 
It's nice to be appreciated anyway 
So - it's over 17 years since I learnt this - what's the procedure for teaching someone how to get a (manual) car moving?
Thanks for any help.
PS. This may be the wrong forum for this - moderators, pelase feel free to move if necessary
It's nice to be appreciated anyway So - it's over 17 years since I learnt this - what's the procedure for teaching someone how to get a (manual) car moving?
Thanks for any help.
PS. This may be the wrong forum for this - moderators, pelase feel free to move if necessary
Check seat position and mirrors, ensure car is out of gear. Start engine. Declutch, engage first gear. Check mirrors to see if safe to pull out, indicate if necessary. Get to bite point, release handbrake. Check mirrors again, look over roadside shoulder in case of bicycling dwarfs in blind spot, if safe move off.
johnl said:
Really, get to the bite point with the handbrake on? Won't do my clutch any favours
That's what the advice is I'm afraid. As to use of accelerator, enough to prevent stalling, depending on slope, ie steep downhill tickover probably adequate, steep uphill enough to hold the car without handbrake, while performing last observations.
johnl said:
Really, get to the bite point with the handbrake on? Won't do my clutch any favours
It doesn't but that's how you get a learner to pull away, then they can do it on a hill as well without rolling back.
Another good habit to get into is to press the clutch down as you start the car, it reduces stress on the starter and is another good safety measure in case it is still in gear
Liebchen ... all sound advice so far.
Just a quickie as still got a zillion things to do before my youngest kitten's biggest day tomorrow - her christening party...
Eldest kitten ist new driver. We did book block of lessons first. But before his lesson .. he watched an L-driver's DVD (available from all computer shops) in which an ADI shows you the controls und explains clutch, gears, steering und so weiter mit visual input. Its main drwaback ist ... you have to have good mouse control before you can proceed to next lesson
But no matter ... it does explain quite clearly und can be played over and over.
We also purchased the hazard aware und HC DVD for him too.
You could also borrow the "ADI Handbook" from local library (or browse for ideas in bookseller Cost of book ist £12.99 when I last looked at it.
Und he sat in driver's seat in our car just "getting the feel" of car in empty car park.
Und we go-carting ist also good fun und helps "feel" regarding skids....
Then ... it was block of lessons mit RAC, followed by practice und we would encourage him to give running commentary whilst we drove and whilst he also practised. Und danach .. block of more lessons You should also encourage your learner to think about each practice drive und each "mistake" without negative criticism The whole point ist to learn und encourage fullest COAST at all times, und a willingness to accept odd mistakes und bad days occur throughout life und to learn from the experience.
Just a quickie as still got a zillion things to do before my youngest kitten's biggest day tomorrow - her christening party...
Eldest kitten ist new driver. We did book block of lessons first. But before his lesson .. he watched an L-driver's DVD (available from all computer shops) in which an ADI shows you the controls und explains clutch, gears, steering und so weiter mit visual input. Its main drwaback ist ... you have to have good mouse control before you can proceed to next lesson
But no matter ... it does explain quite clearly und can be played over and over.
We also purchased the hazard aware und HC DVD for him too.
You could also borrow the "ADI Handbook" from local library (or browse for ideas in bookseller
Cost of book ist £12.99 when I last looked at it. Und he sat in driver's seat in our car just "getting the feel" of car in empty car park.
Und we go-carting ist also good fun und helps "feel" regarding skids....
Then ... it was block of lessons mit RAC, followed by practice und we would encourage him to give running commentary whilst we drove and whilst he also practised. Und danach .. block of more lessons You should also encourage your learner to think about each practice drive und each "mistake" without negative criticism
The whole point ist to learn und encourage fullest COAST at all times, und a willingness to accept odd mistakes und bad days occur throughout life und to learn from the experience.it's also good to get her to learn how to use the accelerator. - not being daft here. Learners tend to jerk the car about because of inexperienced gas pedal control. Your right foot becomes very delicate when you learn to drive, and your left foot heavy for the clutch. They are both the same when you first learn to drive.
ever tried to brake with your left foot? you almost go through the windscreen!
ever tried to brake with your left foot? you almost go through the windscreen!
einion yrth said:
Check seat position and mirrors, ensure car is out of gear. Start engine. Declutch, engage first gear. Check mirrors to see if safe to pull out, indicate if necessary. Get to bite point, release handbrake. Check mirrors again, look over roadside shoulder in case of bicycling dwarfs in blind spot, if safe move off.
Only additional advice I would add is declutch before you turn the key.
Steve
A very good tip for clutch control, get your better half to park on a slight incline ( naturally quiet ). then get her to increase revs to say 1,500rpm then ease the clutch out and roll forward. Then declutch to stop and slowly roll back. Then ease clutch out again to stop roll. Keep repeating forwards backwards without using brakes, keeping revs at 1,500rpm.. This really teaches very good clutch control.
Phil
Phil
falcemob said:
Another good habit to get into is to press the clutch down as you start the car, it reduces stress on the starter and is another good safety measure in case it is still in gear
yes, but it increases stress on the cold and unoiled thrust bearing. better to start without depressing clutch, IMHO.
My tip would be for her to learn first how to be confident in controlling the car before taking it out in traffic. A large empty car park, open space, somewhere at work maybe? It's enough for a new learner to come to terms with controlling the car before battling with traffic as well.
Phil Dicky said:
A very good tip for clutch control, get your better half to park on a slight incline ( naturally quiet ). then get her to increase revs to say 1,500rpm then ease the clutch out and roll forward. Then declutch to stop and slowly roll back. Then ease clutch out again to stop roll. Keep repeating forwards backwards without using brakes, keeping revs at 5,000rpm... until black smoke is pouring from under the bonnet and car continues to roll backwards....
Phil
Another good one for clutch control (courtesy of my Dad) is learning to park on top of bricks. Place two normal house bricks a foot in front of the car, ease car up to and then on top of them - aiming to park bang in the middle of the brick without "falling off" the other side again.
Strangely my 17-year-old mates gave me very funny looks when I used to boast about it...
Strangely my 17-year-old mates gave me very funny looks when I used to boast about it...
Absolutley second the advice about finding somewhere off road first. She will have enough to contend with learning traffic without having to learn car control at the same time.
If you have the right sort of car, wet grass is excellent as you can learn skid control at the same time. Make it fun and avoid the roads until she's happy. It's amazing how far a car can lurch on an uncontrolled clutch
If you have the right sort of car, wet grass is excellent as you can learn skid control at the same time. Make it fun and avoid the roads until she's happy. It's amazing how far a car can lurch on an uncontrolled clutch
The best way I found for learning clutch control (8 years ago mind) was to practice moving the car without using the accelerator at all - you have to be gentle with the clutch to avoid stalling and I found it excellent at learning where the biting point was.
Also, being told how the clutch actually works gave me a better understanding of what happens when I press and release the pedal on the left, which in turn gave me far more sympathy with the clutch (=less whiplash!)
Somewhere off road, as mentioned, would be highly beneficial for the reasons stated.
Also, being told how the clutch actually works gave me a better understanding of what happens when I press and release the pedal on the left, which in turn gave me far more sympathy with the clutch (=less whiplash!
) Somewhere off road, as mentioned, would be highly beneficial for the reasons stated.
Phil Dicky said:
A very good tip for clutch control, get your better half to park on a slight incline ( naturally quiet ). then get her to increase revs to say 1,500rpm then ease the clutch out and roll forward. Then declutch to stop and slowly roll back. Then ease clutch out again to stop roll. Keep repeating forwards backwards without using brakes, keeping revs at 1,500rpm.. This really teaches very good clutch control.
Phil
My instructor did this to me in Hampstead, parked at the side of the road on quite a hill. Car in front Bentley. Car behind 911. Focuses your attention I found.
8Pack said:
My tip would be for her to learn first how to be confident in controlling the car before taking it out in traffic. A large empty car park, open space, somewhere at work maybe? It's enough for a new learner to come to terms with controlling the car before battling with traffic as well.
Good advice... are there any beaches that you can drive on near to where you live?
I tried to teach an ex girlfriend in a huge empty carpark. All was going well until she parked perfectly in a parking bay and then used the accelerator instead of the brake
straight into a brick wall. edit for cr*p spelling
>> Edited by cliffe_mafia on Tuesday 7th December 12:00
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff