 |
Business | Industries | Finance | Tax |
| Index: > A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
|||||
| First Prev [ 1 2 3 ] Next Last |
Please note:
Many North Americans would caution new drivers against attempting the additional burden of learning to operate a manual transmission until they have mastered the more basic driving skills involved in driving any vehicle by practicing in a car equipped with an automatic transmission. In Europe, almost all learner drivers start with manual transmission cars, but they may choose to learn to drive with an automatic transmission instead -- for example if they're handicapped, or if they find out they simply don't "get" manual transmission driving. However, such drivers will receive a driving license that is valid for automatic transmission cars only, and must pass a separate test before being licensed to drive a car with a manual transmission.
Due to these limitations, a hypothetical vehicle that had an internal combustion engine but not a multi-speed transmission would have a fixed ratio of engine speed to vehicle speed, and the range of speeds it could attain would be severely limited.
A transmission allows a vehicle to employ a variety of gear ratios in transmitting its engine's power to its drive wheels.
Beginning manual transmission drivers should avoid conducting their initial practice sessions on busy streets or in neighbourhoods with many children, pedestrians or cyclists. In fact, it's best to start out in a large, deserted parking lot.
A car or truck's shift pattern is usually indicated by a small diagram on top of the shift knob. For most five-speed transmissions it looks like this:
1 3 5 │ │ │ ├─N─┼───┤ │ │ │ 2 4 R
In many Volkswagens and all cars with six-speed transmissions, Reverse will appear in a different position, but the positions of the first through fifth gears are standardized across the entire automotive industry. If you're unfamiliar with a car's shift pattern, study the shift pattern diagram until you're confident you know where first gear and reverse are located.
Neutral is often not indicated on the diagram, but can be selected by moving the shifter to the middle row between the odd- and even-numbered gears. Note that manual transmissions have no "park" setting. To park, engage the parking brake and select first or reverse gear before turning off the engine.
First, always make sure that the car is in neutral before attempting to start the engine. If you attempt to start the car in gear a lot of strain will be put on the starter motor and you will move forward uncontrollably. The clutch is in a disengaged state by depressing it and in an engaged state while no pressure is applied. Many vehicles have a switch that automatically disables the starting circuit until the clutch is fully disengaged. In these vehicles it is necessary to hold the clutch pedal while starting.
Once the engine is running, keep the car in neutral until you are ready to move away. Remember to either keep the parking brake engaged or your right foot on the brake pedal until you're ready to move.
| Politics | Business | Finance |
 |
 |
 |
|