Tips for not ruining transmission?

Z-WHIZ · 09-21-2009, 04:21 PM

Hey guys, The 370 is my first manual car and even though I've driven manual cars before, it has still been an adjustment. I've had a couple rough starts with the car and I've stalled a few times obviously, but I'm getting better.

My question is, am I ruining the transmission at all? And if not, what are some tips I can use to keep me from doing so?

Thanks for the help

dalparadise · 09-21-2009, 04:26 PM

More than likely, it'll be the clutch you stress out, not the transmission. Not much you can do except practice. The setup in the Z is designed to take a pretty hefty torque load and, as such, won't break easily. It'll surely last long enough for you to gain competency.

Blown32 · 09-21-2009, 04:34 PM

Practice makes perfect!Drive..drive...drive!

kenchan · 09-21-2009, 06:25 PM

Yah, your clutch will take most of the beating. if you think you made a mistake just clutch-in.

its really your right foot (throttle input) that makes all the difference though. Left foot works pretty linearly. Especially if you're coming from a AT your right foot needs quite a bit of fine tuning.

DIGItonium · 09-21-2009, 06:43 PM

As long as you're not dumping the clutch, riding it, dragging, burnouts, and donuts, etc... your clutch will be fine if you stall it.

What I do to practice is to keep heel on the floor with clutch down to floor. Pivot your foot back till you reach the engagement point. At the same time, give it some gas and keep it steady like balancing weights. Once the car starts moving you can fully release the pedal and move your foot back. You don't need to give it gas immediately. Then fully press down the clutch pedal and apply foot brake, and repeat. This practice is done in 1st and Reverse only. Everything else is easy... just remember that you don't need to apply gas immediately after shifting and releasing clutch.

BanningZ · 09-21-2009, 07:56 PM

Tips for Beyond Basic Stick Shift Driving | Ask Metafilter

Practice practice practice!

Trips · 09-22-2009, 02:45 AM

and if you fail! theres the 7A j/k like others have mentioned the clutch is what takes the abuse so once again practice practice practice and stay away from steep hills! lol

Greg · 09-22-2009, 04:19 AM

A couple of don'ts

Seriously tho.. It's not hard at all..Like anything it just takes practice.

Good luck

370er · 09-22-2009, 04:39 AM

The 2nd clip made me laugh!

I'm learning manual for the first time too. I hope I don't hurt my Z too much. I have driven auto for 7 years. I'm starting to wonder if I should have got auto, atleast I would have been confident right from the start.

jookiyaya · 09-22-2009, 03:26 PM

lol i remember when i first thought i knew manual from playing need for speed underground back in 2003, i had the steering wheel, and after all that i went to an acura dealership and got my first type R. the salesman was asking u know manual? and i said, "of course" then from there on it was a barrel of laughs, me stalling and the salesman going, "son, wtf r u doing?" so then he taught me the basics and i was out of the dealership stalling at intersections with people yelling at me i cant drive worth sh!#. yeah very humiliating, but yeah like what everyone says, just keep practicing and you get used to it. and then you learn tricks after destroying the tranny and finding out the syncro's are stripped and.... wait lets stop there... thats another story LOL. ^_^

Liquid_G · 09-22-2009, 04:13 PM

first time 6MT'er here as well..

I've had the car for about a month now.. I definitely felt some buyers remorse during that first week.. thinking FK i should have stuck with the auto..

But 4 weeks into it now I actually am getting better at keeping shifts smooth, and actually look forward to driving to work because i get some clutch practice in in heavy traffic.

I think as everyone said here, its just practice practice and more practice..

09-21-2009, 04:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Z-WHIZ Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philly Posts: 115 Drives: 370 Base Rep Power: 16	Tips for not ruining transmission? Hey guys, The 370 is my first manual car and even though I've driven manual cars before, it has still been an adjustment. I've had a couple rough starts with the car and I've stalled a few times obviously, but I'm getting better. My question is, am I ruining the transmission at all? And if not, what are some tips I can use to keep me from doing so? Thanks for the help

09-21-2009, 06:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	Yah, your clutch will take most of the beating. if you think you made a mistake just clutch-in. its really your right foot (throttle input) that makes all the difference though. Left foot works pretty linearly. Especially if you're coming from a AT your right foot needs quite a bit of fine tuning. Last edited by kenchan; 09-21-2009 at 06:27 PM.

09-21-2009, 06:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	As long as you're not dumping the clutch, riding it, dragging, burnouts, and donuts, etc... your clutch will be fine if you stall it. What I do to practice is to keep heel on the floor with clutch down to floor. Pivot your foot back till you reach the engagement point. At the same time, give it some gas and keep it steady like balancing weights. Once the car starts moving you can fully release the pedal and move your foot back. You don't need to give it gas immediately. Then fully press down the clutch pedal and apply foot brake, and repeat. This practice is done in 1st and Reverse only. Everything else is easy... just remember that you don't need to apply gas immediately after shifting and releasing clutch. __________________

09-21-2009, 07:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
BanningZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: nowhere Posts: 5,478 Drives: 06' Nismo Frontier Rep Power: 29	Tips for Beyond Basic Stick Shift Driving \| Ask Metafilter Practice practice practice! __________________ Become a Premium Member: Click HERE MB 06' Nismo VQ40DE

09-22-2009, 02:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	and if you fail! theres the 7A j/k like others have mentioned the clutch is what takes the abuse so once again practice practice practice and stay away from steep hills! lol __________________

09-21-2009, 04:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
dalparadise The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 354 Drives: 2010 Z Roadster T/S Rep Power: 16	More than likely, it'll be the clutch you stress out, not the transmission. Not much you can do except practice. The setup in the Z is designed to take a pretty hefty torque load and, as such, won't break easily. It'll surely last long enough for you to gain competency.

09-21-2009, 04:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Blown32 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N.J. Posts: 289 Drives: 09 370Z Blk sport 6T Rep Power: 16	Practice makes perfect!Drive..drive...drive!

09-22-2009, 04:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Greg Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Francisco Age: 57 Posts: 551 Drives: 06 350 ZR CS Rep Power: 300	A couple of don'ts Seriously tho.. It's not hard at all..Like anything it just takes practice. Good luck __________________ Chef Greg At Your Service

09-22-2009, 04:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
370er Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia, VIC Posts: 231 Drives: Yellow 370Z Rep Power: 16	The 2nd clip made me laugh! I'm learning manual for the first time too. I hope I don't hurt my Z too much. I have driven auto for 7 years. I'm starting to wonder if I should have got auto, atleast I would have been confident right from the start.

09-22-2009, 03:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
jookiyaya Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 262 Drives: 2010 40th Z!?!? Rep Power: 16	lol i remember when i first thought i knew manual from playing need for speed underground back in 2003, i had the steering wheel, and after all that i went to an acura dealership and got my first type R. the salesman was asking u know manual? and i said, "of course" then from there on it was a barrel of laughs, me stalling and the salesman going, "son, wtf r u doing?" so then he taught me the basics and i was out of the dealership stalling at intersections with people yelling at me i cant drive worth sh!#. yeah very humiliating, but yeah like what everyone says, just keep practicing and you get used to it. and then you learn tricks after destroying the tranny and finding out the syncro's are stripped and.... wait lets stop there... thats another story LOL. ^_^ __________________ "370z gives you wings!! "

09-22-2009, 04:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 44	first time 6MT'er here as well.. I've had the car for about a month now.. I definitely felt some buyers remorse during that first week.. thinking FK i should have stuck with the auto.. But 4 weeks into it now I actually am getting better at keeping shifts smooth, and actually look forward to driving to work because i get some clutch practice in in heavy traffic. I think as everyone said here, its just practice practice and more practice..

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