This article will be very useful for people who are learning to drive a car with a manual transmission. It will teach you to start moving smoothly when the car is on a steep incline. The principles described can also be applied to automatic transmissions.
Every driving school teaches you how to drive uphill correctly. For a novice driver, this task often becomes a problem. We couldn’t pass by, so we studied this issue in detail. We managed to find several ways that make it easy to learn how to start up a hill.
How to start with a manual transmission
Driving a manual car is not easy. Even in simple situations, problems often arise with it. The most difficult thing to cope with such a mechanism is for a person who has previously constantly driven a car with an automatic transmission.
At the traffic police exam, you must demonstrate how you know how to drive uphill with a manual transmission. If the examiner sees problems with this task, he will inevitably send you for a retake. You definitely need to pay attention to this process and set aside time for practice. We have prepared two ways at once that will allow you to learn how to drive up a hill using a manual transmission:
- The essence of the first method is to use the handbrake. If you strictly follow the presented guidelines, you can easily master this tricky science:
- the brake handle is raised, in this position the car will not roll backwards;
- neutral is installed;
- when the traffic light turns green, you must depress the clutch;
- engage first gear;
- using the gas pedal, we bring the engine speed to two thousand;
- return the handbrake to its original position, but do not remove the finger from the lock;
- slowly release the clutch;
- add gas, the car begins to move forward.
In practice, this scheme works much faster than it might seem now. Practice decides everything. After just a few practical sessions, the movements will be performed at an automatic level.
- The second method is based on the use of a clutch. It is simple, but the engine suffers. This method consists of several stages:
- depress the clutch pedal while simultaneously pressing the brake pedal;
- release the clutch to 600 rpm on the tachometer;
- release the brake, the car will not roll back due to the speed of the power unit;
- We press on the gas when it is necessary to move.
How to drive up a hill without a handbrake
You can not use the handbrake and still start uphill without any problems. This process is not particularly difficult, but the driver must have a good feel for his car and operate the pedals quickly. Still, this method is more suitable for drivers with at least minimal driving experience. How to start on a hill without a handbrake is described in the practical guide:
- the car is held in place by pressing the brake pedal;
- while the car is in neutral gear;
- to start moving, the clutch is squeezed to the maximum level;
- activate first gear;
- slowly and very smoothly release the clutch;
- it is important to record the moment at which the clutch began to work;
- remove your foot from the brake and move it to the accelerator pedal;
- release the clutch pedal and add gas.
This method seems complicated only at first glance. It takes a lot of practice for all processes to be carried out automatically. You need to train on free slopes, without cars or people.
Driver action algorithm
Put the handbrake on and release the pedal
In the theoretical part, instructors talk in detail about how a driver should act in such a situation. The first step is to learn how to stop on a slope so that no problems arise:
- Stopping on a hill with a regular brake pedal without unnecessary actions.
- Pulling the handbrake.
- Checking the reliability of vehicle fixation.
Usually there are no difficulties with this, and therefore you can proceed to the next stage.
Press the pedal and release the handbrake
The algorithm includes the following driver actions:
- Let's start the engine.
- We pick up speed to 2500-3000.
- Smoothly release the clutch (the speed should drop to 1800-2000).
- Carefully remove the car from the handbrake.
- At the same time, add gas.
Instructors explain this procedure to their students even at the training stage. After this, the exercise is practiced at the training ground. However, problems still arise, so we have to return to this regularly.
How to start automatically
With an automatic transmission, performing such a maneuver is much easier. Let a car with an automatic transmission drive automatically, but you still need to know and be able to drive uphill. There are some tricks here too. There are two options that allow you to solve the problem of overcoming the climb.
- The first method is to use the “P” mode - parking. In this position, the car will stand still and will definitely not start to roll backwards, because the front wheels will be securely blocked. You must proceed as follows:
- switch the automatic transmission to “P” mode – parking;
- start the car;
- squeeze the brake;
- switch to mode “D” - drive;
- release the brake.
On a steep climb the car will back up a little, but only slightly. This is not enough to get to the car behind you. On a small hill the car will not roll back at all. All that remains is to press on the gas and start moving smoothly.
- The second method allows you to drive uphill from the automatic transmission “N neutral” position. This option is suitable for those drivers who use neutral gear and a handbrake. Experts have different views on this style. It’s not for us to judge them, we’re just considering all the options so that no one has any questions. You must proceed as follows:
- the machine is set to “N” - neutral;
- we start the car without removing it from the parking brake;
- squeeze the brake, remove the handbrake;
- shift the automatic transmission to “D” – drive;
- release the brake;
- add gas and start moving.
Method No. 2 - without a handbrake.
Unfortunately, the first method may not always be applicable (we won’t dwell on the reasons, there are many of them), it’s better to look at the second method:
- when stopping on a hill, do not release the brake pedal and do not turn off the car;
- at the moment of the necessary start of movement, squeeze the clutch all the way, without releasing the “brake”, and begin to gradually release it;
- when you feel that the clutch has engaged, smoothly remove your foot from the brake (don’t be afraid, the car will not roll away, the clutch will not allow this) and put it on the gas;
- then behave as you would during a normal start: carefully releasing the clutch and gradually increasing the pressure on the gas (without unnecessary throttling), set the car in motion.
Clutch pedal positions
The clutch pedal has 4 main positions. For visual perception they are shown in the figure.
The distance from position 1, when the clutch is completely disengaged, to position 2, when minimal clutch occurs and the car starts to move, can be called an empty stroke, since when the pedal moves in this interval, nothing will happen to the car.
Range of motion from point 2 to point 3—adhesion force increases.
And the range from 3 to 4 points can also be called empty, since at this moment the clutch is already fully engaged, the car moves according to the selected gear.
How to drive uphill with a manual transmission without a handbrake
There are 3 ways to start uphill with a manual transmission. Let's look at each of them in order.
Method 1
Step 1 : We stand up the hill with the clutch and brake depressed and first gear engaged.
Step 2 : Release SMOOTHLY (the main thing here is not to overdo it, otherwise you will stall) the clutch, approximately to point 2 (you should hear a change in the sound of the engine, and the speed will drop slightly). In this position the machine should not roll back.
Step 3 : Take your foot off the brake pedal, put it on the gas pedal, give it about 2 thousand revolutions (if the hill is steep, then more) and immediately release the clutch pedal a LITTLE more.
The car will start to move uphill.
Method 2
In essence, this method completely repeats the usual start of movement from a place, but with the exception of some points:
- all actions must be done quickly so that the car does not have time to roll away or stall;
- you need to give more gas than on a flat road.
This method is best used when you have already gained some experience and feel the pedals of the car.
Driving uphill with manual transmission
A manual transmission causes a lot of difficulties in the simplest situations, especially if a person has driven an automatic all his life and has forgotten everything he was taught in driving school. During the traffic police exams, one of the most difficult tasks is starting up a hill without rolling back. If the inspector sees that you failed, you will have to prepare for a re-examination.
There are several ways to drive up a hill in manual mode without the fear of driving into the cars behind you.
Method one - we start up the hill with the handbrake.
Let’s say you stopped at a traffic light and the road is downhill, and a “cool” jeep stopped behind you, the driver of which does not keep a distance. In order not to crush his bumper, you need to act according to the following scheme:
- lift the handbrake handle up - now the car will not roll back;
- Place the gearshift lever in neutral gear.
When the light turns green, the sequence of actions is exactly the opposite:
- depress the clutch and select first gear;
- we bring the engine speed to two thousand by pressing the gas pedal;
- lower the handbrake, but keep your finger on the lock, smoothly release the clutch pedal;
- We press on the gas and start moving.
In reality, all this happens much faster. That is, we continue to hold the finger of our right hand on the handbrake button, while smoothly releasing the clutch and simultaneously pressing the gas.
When the clutch “seizes”, we will feel that the nose will begin to rise and vibrations will begin. At this point, the clutch should be completely released and you can continue driving.
This exercise is practiced until it becomes automatic, although many drivers manage to roll back even with an automatic, not to mention a manual one.
In this video, you will see how to move up a hill using the handbrake
Method two - without using the handbrake.
Starting up a hill without a handbrake is not so difficult, but you need to learn how to work the pedals correctly and feel the car. You need to find a position for the gas pedals and the clutch where the car can remain in place - if you release the clutch, your car will go forward, but if you press the clutch, it will roll back.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- hold the car by pressing the brake, the gear is selected in neutral;
- when you need to start moving, press the clutch all the way;
- go into first gear;
- smoothly release the clutch and when you feel that it has started to work, record this moment;
- release the brake and place your foot on the gas pedal;
- release the clutch completely and press on the gas - you drive forward without jumping back.
It is necessary to practice this method until it becomes automatic, so that no problems arise, this way you can move forward without over-throttle and stalled engine. If you are standing in a stream of cars, then there is no need to rush, wait until the cars in front start moving, and at that time you perform these actions “automatically”.
Video of starting up a hill without using the handbrake.
Method three - clutch.
Probably the simplest, but it kills the engine a little.
We stop, depress the clutch and simultaneously press the brake. We release the clutch a little so that the tachometer shows 600 rpm. You can release the brake pedal completely, the car will stand still due to engine speed. Then all you have to do is press the gas, smoothly releasing the clutch, and you will go forward and not roll back.
This method, of course, is best used only in cases where you are in a hurry.
In addition, it is important to remember that the clutch must always be released smoothly, otherwise the engine will simply stall right on the hill, which will make the drivers behind you very happy.
This is a video for the third method of starting up a hill.
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