If you drive a car with a manual gearbox, hill starts could put you in trouble. Fortunately, with a little practice it is quite easy to start uphill and you can always pull the handbrake if you feel like the car is about to slide backwards. To start uphill from a standing start, you can quickly shift your foot from the brake to the accelerator as you release the clutch, or you can press the accelerator while lowering the handbrake. You can use a similar technique to start downhill, releasing the brake and clutch before stepping on the accelerator. With a little practice you will be able to start on a slope in a car with a manual gearbox in no time!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Switching from one Pedal to the Other
Step 1. Hold the brake with your right foot and the clutch with your left
Squeeze both pedals all the way down.
- In cars with manual transmission, the clutch is the leftmost pedal. The brake is in the center and the throttle on the right.
- Even in cars with the steering wheel on the right, the order of the pedals is usually the same.
- The clutch is the pedal that transfers power from the engine to the wheels. Holding it down prevents the wheels from spinning while the engine is running. Releasing it completely transfers all the engine power to the wheels.
Step 2. Start the car and shift into first gear
Turn the key in the ignition to start the car, then move the gear lever to first. You may feel that the car starts to slide backwards when you turn it on, but it will stop right away, so don't worry. Do not take your foot off the clutch and brake yet.
Step 3. Slowly release the clutch as you move your right foot onto the accelerator
When you are ready to go, take off the handbrake. Quickly move your right foot from the brake to the accelerator. Begin to lift your foot off the clutch as you press the accelerator so that you begin to move.
If you start to go backwards, press the brake pedal again and apply the handbrake. Start over. It may take some practice to get used to this technique
Advise:
in the time it takes you to move your foot from the brake to the accelerator, your car will move slightly backwards. Try to be as quick as possible to make sure you don't go back too far.
Step 4. Press the throttle and fully release the clutch
As you press the accelerator, lift your foot completely off the clutch to pick up speed. You may notice that the clutch "bites" or clicks when you press the accelerator. This is normal and indicates that you can fully release it and control the car with the accelerator.
Clutch clicks are due to the resistance you feel on the pedal as you accelerate. When you crank the engine up, the clutch tries to limit the speed of the wheels, causing friction on the pedal
Method 2 of 3: Using the Handbrake
Step 1. Pull the handbrake while squeezing the clutch with your left foot
Press the button on top of the handbrake lever and pull it to the vertical position. Always keep the clutch pressed all the way down in this step.
This method is simpler if you have a hard time moving your foot from brake to accelerator quickly. It uses the same principle as the first technique, but involves the use of the hand brake instead of the foot brake
Step 2. Start the car and shift into first gear
Turn the key in the ignition to go. Do not move your foot or change the position of the handbrake. Put the gear in first.
Step 3. Press the accelerator with your right foot as you release the clutch
Slowly push the accelerator as you take your left foot off the clutch. When you feel the clutch pedal "bite" or click, it means the vehicle begins to move forward.
Advise:
if you feel that the car is about to stop, pull the handbrake fully so that the car remains stationary and try again. This technique can take some practice, so don't worry if you don't succeed on the first try!
Step 4. Lower the handbrake and simultaneously release the clutch
Once the clutch clicks, press the button on top of the handbrake lever. Lower it as you press the accelerator to release the brake and move the car forward.
You basically have to release the handbrake and clutch as you accelerate. If you are on a very steep hill, you can release the clutch slightly before lowering the handbrake
Method 3 of 3: Go Downhill
Step 1. Press the brake and clutch with your feet
If you have to go downhill, start by pressing the clutch and brake all the way down.
Do not lower the handbrake yet
Step 2. Start the car and shift into first gear
With the car in neutral, turn the key in the ignition to start it. Move the gear lever to first, but still press the clutch and brake.
Step 3. Slowly lower the handbrake and tighten the steering wheel
Place one hand on the steering wheel and, with the other, press the button on top of the handbrake lever. Slowly lower it so the wheels are no longer blocked.
Your car can move slowly when you lower the handbrake, so do it gradually to control the speed
Step 4. Lift your feet off the clutch and brake at the same time
Once the handbrake lever is lowered, slowly lift your feet off the pedals. The car will begin to move downhill. Use your hand on the wheel to steer it.
Once you get used to this movement, you can release the clutch, brake pedal and lower the handbrake at the same time
Advice:
if your car does not start or is broken, you can follow this step in neutral to advance the car downhill and pull it to the curb.
Step 5. Use the throttle to reach the desired speed
Once the clutch and brake are released, move your right foot to the accelerator and use it to control the speed of your car. If you have to slow down, do it by pressing the clutch and brake.
Advice
- Don't panic if you fail to start on the first try, as it is very likely that you will fail. Try to practice in a low-traffic area. The more cars on the street, the more stressed you will feel.
- Starting by moving your foot from one pedal to the other requires dexterity. Using the handbrake, on the other hand, you need to be able to coordinate your hands and feet. Choose the method that seems simpler to you, because in practice it is the same process.
