I'm getting it down pretty quickly. I'm able to drive back and forth to work no problem. However, I can't seem to find the best time to switch from first to second. I shift it into first, then when I switch to second, it like, stops, then goes. It hurts my acceleration and I don't feel comfortable merging onto a highway until I have this down. Any tips?

Car? Engine? Tranny?

2003 Hyundai Elantra. As far as engine and tranny, I don't know. And sorry about my user name, this is an account I don't use and I didn't know I was logged into. I take this seriously.

2003 Hyundai Elantra. As far as engine and tranny, I don't know. And sorry about my user name, this is an account I don't use and I didn't know I was logged into. I take this seriously.

We don't give a shit about your name. :D

According to wiki, its got either a 1.6 or a 2.0.

What do you mean by "stops"? Does the engine lose power and then get back going, or does it just have no power? What RPM are you shifting at?

Did some reading for you, and most of the power comes in at 4400-6400rpms. Max power comes at 6000rpms, so I would shift around 6,200, or even redline it. This is purely an estimation, so don't take my words to heart. Play with the car, and see how it reacts shifting at different times.

Hope this helped.

We don't give a shit about your name. :D

According to wiki, its got either a 1.6 or a 2.0.

What do you mean by "stops"? Does the engine lose power and then get back going, or does it just have no power? What RPM are you shifting at?

By stop I mean that the car just slows down and almost comes to a stop while I have the clutch down and shifting into second. I usually shift at 3000 rpm but I've been trying as high as 5000 to see if it helps, but it doesn't.

The engine doesn't stall or shake or anything scary, but my car just feels like it has no power. I seem to lose all my speed/acceleration.

I should also mention that the car has 150000 miles on it and I think the clutch is the original one.

Edit: Thank you midnightrider384, I'll try it at 6. I didn't know that I could redline it safely.

By stop I mean that the car just slows down and almost comes to a stop while I have the clutch down and shifting into second. I usually shift at 3000 rpm but I've been trying as high as 5000 to see if it helps, but it doesn't.

The engine doesn't stall or shake or anything scary, but my car just feels like it has no power. I seem to lose all my speed/acceleration.

I should also mention that the car has 150000 miles on it and I think the clutch is the original one.

Edit: Thank you midnightrider384, I'll try it at 6. I didn't know that I could redline it safely.

If it really is at 150k, I wouldn't redline it. I figured it was at around 50k.

I wouldn't recommend not pushing it with an engine that old.

If it really is at 150k, I wouldn't redline it. I figured it was at around 50k.

I wouldn't recommend not pushing it with an engine that old.

Lol, I hope he read that in time.

Lol, I hope he read that in time.

I did. Ugh, does my car need an overhaul? Did I get ripped off when I bought this in July? I spent $3,999.

By stop I mean that the car just slows down and almost comes to a stop while I have the clutch down and shifting into second.

... All cars slow down when you have the clutch in.

When you have the clutch in, that means no power is going to the wheels. You are just coasting till it is up again.

Unless it is slowing down more than it otherwise should (e.g. brakes are stuck on or something, which I doubt), then the problem is purely that you are taking like 10 seconds to shift.

3000-3500 revs sounds good to me.

@midnight: Recommending anyone new to cars (since they can't make an educated decision) to redline there car is a dumb thing to do, especially in a manual where you can be a bit too slow and bounce on the limiter. There is no reason in his situation to do so anyway... who the hell redlines their car as a matter of course? If you need to redline it something is wrong.

... All cars slow down when you have the clutch in.

When you have the clutch in, that means no power is going to the wheels. You are just coasting till it is up again.

Unless it is slowing down more than it otherwise should (e.g. brakes are stuck on or something, which I doubt), then the problem is purely that you are taking like 10 seconds to shift.

3000-3500 revs sounds good to me.

@midnight: Recommending anyone new to cars (since they can't make an educated decision) to redline there car is a dumb thing to do, especially in a manual where you can be a bit too slow and bounce on the limiter. There is no reason in his situation to do so anyway... who the hell redlines their car as a matter of course? If you need to redline it something is wrong.

Ah...I suppose I just have to work on being faster then. Thank you.

You car is rubbish and you should just abuse it.

Ah...I suppose I just have to work on being faster then. Thank you.

How do you take that long to change gear??

I don't actually take 10 seconds, Maybe one. I'm still learning. I don't really have anyone to teach me.

Something is clearly wrong.

Put the car in neutral and let it coast down.

Does it slow down particularly fast?

Do the same in gear but with the clutch in.

The car should not be slowing down very quickly. Someone else here can answer whether this could possibly be brakes or something sticking?

If you need to redline it something is wrong.

Or one drives a 3600lb car with 110 hp and needs to merge with 75 mph traffic.

From first to second? My car has about 50bhp, and I usually merge with 120kmph traffic in 5th.

take a ride with an experienced driver.
see how they shift.
or find out they tell you your clutch is shot at 150k

But why are you only in 1st or 2nd when getting onto highway? That's what I don't get.

Try reading your owner's manual, it might just have some good tips for stuff such as this, as it should have been written so that total car noobs would be able to read it and understand how to operate the car. It'll probably have a table with the MPH &/or RPM that you should shift out of each gear at &/or the max MPH that you can go in each gear.


The redline is red for a reason: because you're never supposed to go into it, unless you want to risk catastrophic failure or just don't want your engine to last.

A redline also exists because it is there to remind you that there is no power there.

If you take the car along a stright road in top gear, say at 60. If you push the throttle all the way in does the engine rev up alot faster than than it should given how fast the speed is increasing? That could suggest whether or not the clutch is slipping. (A good possibility given how old the car is)

And there aren't any "service engine soon" lights on?

@midnight: Recommending anyone new to cars (since they can't make an educated decision) to redline there car is a dumb thing to do, especially in a manual where you can be a bit too slow and bounce on the limiter. There is no reason in his situation to do so anyway... who the hell redlines their car as a matter of course? If you need to redline it something is wrong.

Ordinarily I would agree, but in a FWD car that weighs 3600lbs, and has 180bhp, I would have to disagree.

Lol, must be pretty hard trying to figure out what's wrong by getting advice off a forum.

As posted above, just have a drive with someone who has been driving manuals for years, see what they think.

It's only rarely that you need to use the clutch whilst shifting.

i actually dont think theres a problem, it's just your shifting.

practise your clutch control.

if there is a problem, it's likely your clutch.

It's only rarely that you need to use the clutch whilst shifting.

I didnt think hyundai elantra's had tacho's...



lol how can you learn to rev match without one...

Ordinarily I would agree, but in a FWD car that weighs 3600lbs, and has 180bhp, I would have to disagree.

Clearly you don't have a lot of experience with properly functioning cars.

I could merge just fine in a 3 and a half ton truck with 60 horsepower, while staying below about half of redline.

And FWD has absolutely nothing to do with this case.

That could suggest whether or not the clutch is slipping. (A good possibility given how old the car is)

Since the problem exists while the clutch is disengaged, you would think it would be independent of the clutches' situation.

Clearly you don't have a lot of experience with properly functioning cars.


Well, you do have a point. I learned to drive a manual in a 93 Ford Explore with a smashed clutch

Clearly you don't have a lot of experience with properly functioning cars.

I could merge just fine in a 3 and a half ton truck with 60 horsepower, while staying below about half of redline.

And FWD has absolutely nothing to do with this case.



Since the problem exists while the clutch is disengaged, you would think it would be independent of the clutches' situation.This is part of why you were made mod of GH, you know your shit.

Ordinarily I would agree, but in a FWD car that weighs 3600lbs, and has 180bhp, I would have to disagree.

A Saturn VUE with the 2.4/5-speed weighs 4200 lbs and has a 145 hp engine, and has a very large frontal area. Don't really need the redline to go fast. :p

Don't use first except for taking off from a stop. For a start.

Heres a useful bit of advice: Driving is a practical skill. Learn from practice and experience

Also everyone is saying to be careful because this is an old car WOW hyundai must make some shitty cars if this is the case for a 2003 model. I have a car from the 70's and can thrash it when I want and it loves it. And it's british.

I didnt think hyundai elantra's had tacho's...



lol how can you learn to rev match without one...

That's like asking how you can drink without a straw.

That's like asking how you can drink without a straw.

How!?

How!?

Because a clutch pedal is exactly the same as a straw, in every definitive way.

Because a clutch pedal is exactly the same as a straw, in every definitive way.

But how do you drink with a clutch?

But how do you drink with a clutch?

Why do I need to teach you these things.

But how do you drink with a clutch?

Very slowly.

I have a car from the 70's and can thrash it when I want and it loves it. And it's british.

To be fair that was before political correctness killed the country.

That's like asking how you can drink without a straw.

i think the hyundai will blow up before he learns to rev match properly

It's very easy to do, even if you haven't driven a manual before. It takes a couple of minutes to work out when it sounds like it needs to be changed, at worst.

i never tried in my first car, in my current ute it's not hard, but that may be the nature of the gears.

he is having trouble shifting from first to second, and you're suggesting it's easy.

i used the tacho to learn.

I don't have one in mine, so I just go by ear.

This wouldn't be a problem in a volvo!

In all seriousness though, I can't help your problem, but if it's a 5-speed, you really should be in about third coming onto the highway from the onramp.

Is he entering an on-ramp in first?

(Obviously, I haven't read this thread. I scanned for interesting things.)

Is he seriously entering an on-ramp in first?

...That makes me want to stab myself in the front of the skull with a chisel to alleviate myself of the concept of doing that!

Is he entering an on-ramp in first?

(Obviously, I haven't read this thread. I scanned for interesting things.)

Is he seriously entering an on-ramp in first?

...That makes me want to stab myself in the front of the skull with a chisel to alleviate myself of the concept of doing that!

No lol.

I've been working on just shifting quicker and it seems to be fine now. A lot of people who drive my car say that the clutch catches on pretty high up, which means it's getting worn out. But the engine is fine, the clutch is otherwise fine.

I haven't tried merging with a highway ever, and I'd imagine that the only time I'd need to stop is when traffic is bumper to bumper, which means I wouldn't be merging with 75 mph traffic.

By merging onto highways, I meant turning onto highways that intersect with backroads and you need to merge with 45 mph to 50mph traffic.

Merging isn't an artform.
Just follow the three P's (no, not that PPP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearly_penile_papules)): Pick a point, Plant your foot, and Pray to God. This method is pretty much how driving in traffic generally works, and can also be applied to intersections, hook turns, roundybouts, carparks, and RBIs. Don't worry about learning to shift prefectly just yet, you'll get it in time. Just remember that clutches are like clits.

Keep your eyes off the gearstick.

Merging isn't an artform.
Just pick a point, plant your foot, and pray to your insurance provider. Hell, that's pretty much how driving in general works.

fixed

I'm not hoping I don't wreck, I'm hoping my insurance will cover it if I do.

Just drive in the shoulder till you get up to speed. Be aware of other merging traffic though.

Fire an assault rifle randomly out of the window until there is no traffic to merge with, then calmly enter the lane of your choice.

I wouldnt say that im one of the besterestestest drivers out there but i never had a problem driving manual. Maybe because here in germany thats what you normally do when you do your drivers licence so that you can automatically also drive automatic with your licence. The other way around your not allowed to drive manual so yeah.


Anyway, i drive a mercedes e-class (142,328 km). 2 liter engine, 136 hp, 1,5 tonnes empty and i don't have any problems merging with the traffic on the autobahn at 130 km/h. I drive off in first, change to second at 2500, push that to 3000, change to third. I'll drive like that to the autobahn. On the accelaration lane i push the 3rd gear to 3500-4000, depending on how fast i have to get fast (:P) then 4th to 130 and 5th to cruise. No problems.


I always found that taking the foot off the gas while pushing the clutch in, changing gears and then letting the clutch come while pushing the accelarator a bit less than normal was better while learning.


And now shifting gears isn't a problem.


I doubt this helped you... -.-