Clutch Driving Gurus

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Nov 25, 2002 | 01:40 PM

imprezton

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Clutch Driving Gurus

I've driven MT's for 20 years, but my wife has me stumped.

I'm teaching her to drive a MT. She's been learning on an old Festiva we bought for her, and is getting *somewhat* smooth with clutch operation.

So last night, I let her drive the OBS. When she starts out in 1st, the tranny lurches in kinda a pulsing way. I can't describe it any other way. like she's pounding and laying off the gas in sequence. I get in the car, I try bogging first, slipping the clutch, etc., and I can't recreate what she's doing.

Have any of you had this experience with new clutch drivers, and have you figured out what they were doing wrong?

Nov 25, 2002 | 01:56 PM

N/A

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Beginners Luck maybe?

Nov 25, 2002 | 01:59 PM

imprezton

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Quote:

Originally posted by N/A
Beginners Luck maybe?

That's what I'm thinking. I'd just like to tell her something constructive before I let her drive my baby again

Nov 25, 2002 | 02:05 PM

John #555

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Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 181

From: OC, CA

Car Info: 02 WRX

it might be that she's letting out the clutch too far too fast. I noticed on older econoboxes

with clutch cable (vs hydraulic) you feel the clutch grabbing much later - more softer and forgiving. Try letting up the clutch slower to engage clutch earlier...

Nov 25, 2002 | 02:14 PM

svrex

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Quote:

Originally posted by John #555
it might be that she's letting out the clutch too far too fast.

This is most likely it. I did this to my WRX when I first got it.

Nov 25, 2002 | 03:01 PM

imprezton

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Quote:

Originally posted by svrex
This is most likely it. I did this to my WRX when I first got it.

Thanks for the info. When I drive her "Ferrari Festiva," I notice that clutch pedal has to travel way out before engage. Os I'll try releasing it all at once and see if I recreate her problem.

Nov 25, 2002 | 03:05 PM

xerron

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She's probly doing what I used to do, when things started to go wrong, the natural thing is to let up on the clutch, which is actually the worst thing you can do. Just give her time and she'll figure it out. It only took me about 3 days of driving to really start to get it.

Nov 25, 2002 | 06:24 PM

meebs

Registered User

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 91

From: Buckley

Car Info: 09 WRX Hatch

i think i know what your saying. this happened to me when i tried to drive my brothers civic ex. like they said above, i think she's just letting it out too quick trying to find where it grabs. and because your heel on your right foot is planted on the floor, it's a fulcrum and the lurtching turns into a vicous cycle that you seem to not be able to get out of.

Instinct tells you to let off because it grabs too quick. the forward thrust startles you and you go to back off... So you let off and the sudden decrease in acceleration rocks your body and foot forward... then you let of, forward, let off, forward.

First time i did that, I just dipped the clutch and couldn't help but laugh. For me, once I get used to a car's clutch, it's hard to jump into another one right away and be comfortable.