Have you ever wanted to learn at least the basics of how to drive a manual transmission? Luckily, the basic concepts of starting to move a manual transmission car and shifting through the gears is a process anyone can learn. This guide will help you out so that day you get in a manual car, you won't look too bad.

*Steps*

1. Try to get on level ground. Put your seatbelt on once you get in.
2. Identify the pedals. In a manual car, there are three.
   • The one on the far left is the clutch , the middle on is the brake, and then the gas/accelerator is on the far right.(CBA).
3. Learn what the clutch does:
   • The clutch disconnects the spinning engine from the spinning wheels and allows you to switch gears without grinding the teeth of each separate gear.
   • Before you switch gears, the clutch must be depressed.
4. If you are in an area with hills or elevated land, make sure that you have the emergency brake engaged or you will start to roll when you are not in gear or do not have your foot on the brake pedal.
5. Adjust the seat position forward enough to allow you to press the clutch pedal (the left pedal, next to the brake pedal) fully to the floor with your left foot.
6. Press the clutch pedal and hold it to the floor.
7. Move the gear shift to neutral. This is the middle position that feels free when moved from side to side. The vehicle is considered out of gear when:
   • the gear shift is in the neutral position, or
   • the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
8. Start the engine with the key, making sure to keep the clutch pedal held to the floor.
   • Some cars must be in first gear to start, not neutral. This is considered a safety feature.
9. Once the engine is started, you can remove your foot from the clutch pedal (as long as it is in neutral).
10. Press the clutch to the floor again and move the gear shift to first gear. It should be the upper left position, and there should be some kind of visual layout of the gear pattern on top of the gear shift knob.
11. Slowly lift your foot up from the clutch pedal until you hear the engine speed begin to drop, then push it back in. Repeat this several times until you can instantly recognize the sound. This is the friction point.
12. In order to get moving, lift your foot up from the clutch pedal until the RPMs (revs) drop slightly and apply light pressure to the accelerator. Balance the light downward pressure on the accelerator with lessening pressure on the clutch pedal. At this point the car will start to move. You will probably have to do this several times to find the right combination of pressure up and down. It is best to have the engine rev just enough to prevent stalling as the clutch pedal is let up.
    • If you release the clutch too quickly the car will stall. If the engine sounds like it is going to stall, then hold the clutch where it is or even push it further in slightly. Excessive engine speed while the clutch is between fully up and fully depressed will wear out the clutch parts prematurely resulting in slippage or smoking of the clutch parts at the transmission.
13. When driving, when your RPM reaches about 3000 to 4000 as indicated by the tachometer, it is time to shift into second gear. Remember though that it depends fully on the car you are driving what RPM the tachometer will reach before you must shift. Your engine will begin to race and speed up, and you must learn to recognize this noise. Apply pressure downward on the clutch pedal and guide the shift lever straight down from 1st gear into the bottom left position.
    • Many cars have a "Shift Light" or indications on the speedometer that will tell you when you need to shift so you don't rev the engine too fast.
14. Push down on the gas very slightly and release the clutch pedal.
15. Once in gear and on the gas you should completely remove your foot from the clutch pedal. Resting your foot on the pedal is a bad habit, and applies pressure to the clutch mechanism - the increased pressure could allow the clutch to wear prematurely.
16. When you have to stop, shift right foot off accelerator to the brake pedal and squeeze down as hard as is required and as you slow to about 15kph you will feel the car about to start shaking and vibrating. Press the clutch pedal fully down and move the gear shift to neutral to prevent stalling.

• Before beginning to shift gears make sure you know the gear arrangement. Many times this is posted on the top of the shifter. Generally from the center, 1st is up and left, 2nd down and left, 3rd up center, 4th down center and 5th up right. If your car has a 6th gear it will be down and right. Reverse will either be where 6th gear would be in a 5-speed or to the far left or right, depending on the vehicle.
• Make sure you push the clutch all the way in before shifting to the next gear.
• If your car seems like it is going to stall or the engine is sputtering, then push in the clutch again and wait for the engine to return to idle and repeat the steps to starting off.
• During sub freezing temperatures, it is not advisable to leave a car for a longer time with a handbrake (parking brake) pulled on. Moisture will freeze making the release of the parking brake impossible. You may want to apply 1st gear when the car is parked on flat surface or up the hill. If your car is parked facing downhill, leave the car in Reverse. Don't forget to use the handbrake when you press the clutch, otherwise the car will start to move.
• Learn the sounds of your engine. You should know when to change gears without looking at the tachometer.

*Warnings*

• Use the brakes to slow the vehicle down. Resist the temptation of down shifting to force a low gear to slow the vehicle down. Consider that a brake job is significantly less expensive than an engine or transmission rebuild. Sometimes use of low gear to slow the vehicle down is required, such as when going down a long, steep grade that would result in brake fade due to excessive heat. When necessary to use the the compression of the engine and low gear to slow the vehicle down, observe that when you down shift, let off the clutch slowly and wait for the car to respond. If the car lurches forward and chirps the tires, you probably are going too fast for that gear. In this situation immediately floor the clutch and shift back into the gear you were in and slow down before down shifting.
• Stop completely before going from reverse to another gear.
• Keep an eye on the tachometer until you are comfortable with a manual. A manual transmission requires much more responsibility than an automatic. Over rev the engine, and severe damage to the engine may result.

*Video Link*

how to drive a car with munal transmissionNotice:When the video plays to 1:53 Step 11, it shows the person pressing onto the brake pedal when they should be pressing on gas.

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