[silverbullet256]

Hey everybody, just recently got an 04 Accord LX coupe, which happens to be my first manual transmission ever. Everything shifts fine for me except 1st gear. Getting rolling smoothly without the car shuttering is tough for me. Any tips on how to make the transition as smooth as possible? I usually let off the clutch a little then apply a little bit of gas, which works but like I said, it's not smooth. If anybody has any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

 

[salcuta]

Don't wait until the car moves. Release the clutch while hitting the gas. You want a little rev before clutch engages. I don't have a manual car, but I do have a manual motorcycle. Go into a parking lot and learn your clutch slowly.

 

[BLCKFLSH]

Do you have friends or relatives who drive manuals? Get them to drive your car, just to see if they think something is wrong with it.

Otherwise,
It's a skill. Some people pick it up easily, and after a few days you would think they've been driving manuals all their lives. Some people will wear out two clutches in 100k miles, constantly ride the clutch, and are just not cut out to drive a manual. I'm a welder, which is also a skill. Some people pick it up quickly, and some never get the hang of it. If you drive a manual for a couple thousand miles, and still can't get the hang of it, sell it and buy an auto. The clutch pedal and accelerator should be in perfect synchronization. Once you get the feel for when the clutch engages (every clutch is different) it should become second nature. A manual transmission will never be fun for you, if you have to concentrate too hard to make it smooth.

 

[carlson03]

Do you have friends or relatives who drive manuals? Get them to drive your car, just to see if they think something is wrong with it.

Otherwise,
It's a skill. Some people pick it up easily, and after a few days you would think they've been driving manuals all their lives. Some people will wear out two clutches in 100k miles, constantly ride the clutch, and are just not cut out to drive a manual. I'm a welder, which is also a skill. Some people pick it up quickly, and some never get the hang of it. If you drive a manual for a couple thousand miles, and still can't get the hang of it, sell it and buy an auto. The clutch pedal and accelerator should be in perfect synchronization. Once you get the feel for when the clutch engages (every clutch is different) it should become second nature. A manual transmission will never be fun for you, if you have to concentrate too hard to make it smooth.

Yep! Maybe if you get good enough, you can do what my friend in his old old manual civic could do, shut the car off going down hill and start it with the clutch! That dang car wouldn't die, thats for sure!

 

[CarlR33]

These five speeds are a little unrefined when trying to get going in first. I thought the same thing when I first got mine and my spouse does not like to drive it. Im used to it and this car has been a mileage work horse. Its just the nature of the beast on these, IMO

 

[bryan2412]

Check out the standardshift.com forum. There are a bunch of tips to smooth out in 1st gear. I dont think people who drive manual cars expect it to be as smooth as automatic, it is possible but not necessarily why they bought a manual car for I can say 1st gear is the most difficult gear to get smooth and it only comes in time with enough practice. What I found helpful is to slip the clutch a little bit longer. I normally set the gas around 1100rpm then slowly release the clutch. Once it starts to grab, I hold it there for a fraction of second while adding just a little gas to compensate for the rpm drop. hope it helps

 

[bartles1989]

Where does your pedal "grab". Ive seen people say their clutch is right off the floor... which mine was too until i did my clutch. Should be at top.

 

[Drew03Accord]

Where does your pedal "grab". Ive seen people say their clutch is right off the floor... which mine was too until i did my clutch. Should be at top.

No, a worn clutch grabs at the the top. New clutch starts biting soon as you start lifting.

OP, go into a parking lot and practice getting the car to roll by only lifting the clutch.... NO GAS whatsover. If the car start to stall, sink the clutch quickly. Do that from zero in 1st, then try it from zero in 2nd gear. That will teach you to modulate the clutch properly. For stage 3, keep that same finesse in mind, but add gas into the mix applying smoothly before you even start to lift. It's the sudden movements that get you that bucking bronco action.

 

[WDHewson]

I've found my 2003 Coupe very easy to move off in 1st gear. Very broad and easy clutch engagement, and very little stick slip shudder.

Almost as good as the clutch in my 1966 VW Beetle.

And much better than my 1953 Chevrolet three on the tree.

 

[Camrykiller]

Hang in there. You'll get it. Been driving my 07 EX-L sedan since last summer and it becomes second nature after awhile. I still suck at reverse though sometimes. These cars in stick are really fun to drive!


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[ezshift5]

I've found my 2003 Coupe very easy to move off in 1st gear. Very broad and easy clutch engagement, and very little stick slip shudder.

Almost as good as the clutch in my 1966 VW Beetle.

And much better than my 1953 Chevrolet three on the tree.

Chevvy clutches of the period - IMHO - were really poor compared to Ford.
Mine would chatter no matter how precise the engagement.

Not so with my buds who had Fords.

That was a long time ago.


ez

 

[jtdgaf]

Agree with having someone else driving it. I have had occasional judder on both the Accords I have owned. None on the CR-V or S2000. By occasional, I mean about 1 out of 100 starts. May not be driver error at all.

 

[Camrykiller]

My clutch squeaks like a mouse sometimes. Has its own personality Seems to happen more often when it's humid out

 

[BMBaccord]

I had the same issue with my first manual car. It just takes driving it more and more! :thmsup:

You'll get the hang of it and will be a pro before you know it. When I was overthinking it, it wasn't as smooth as when I would just drive and not try to put the extra effort.