How to drive a manual transmission car with a broken clutch

If you drive a car with a manual transmission, there will likely come a point where the clutch wears out or the clutch pedal breaks. As a rule, clutch pedals are strong and do not fail - although it is still possible that ...

If you drive a car with a manual transmission, there will likely come a point where the clutch wears out or the clutch pedal breaks. Clutch pedals are generally strong and don't fail - though it's still possible for a pedal to break at a pivot, pedal arm, or one of the levers or cables to engage and disengage the clutch.

• A warning: Driving with a broken clutch is more likely to cause further damage to the clutch, transmission, shifter or starter. Use it only as a last resort.

Part 1 of 3: Start the engine without the clutch

If your car is equipped with a manual transmission and your clutch pedal is broken, your first task will be to start the engine. Every modern manual transmission car has an ignition lock switch that prevents the car from starting in gear.

Step 1. Position the car so that there are no obstacles in front of you.. If you are in a parking lot or stall, you will need to push your car into the lane to clear the path in front of you.

Ask friends and passers-by to push you.

Put the transmission in the center, neutral position and sit in the driver's seat.

Ask the pushers to push your car into the lane while you are driving. Don't apply the brakes while your car is being pushed or you could injure one of your helpers.

Step 2: Try to start the car with the shift lever in first gear.. Be ready to ride as soon as you turn the key.

Depress the clutch pedal to the floor, even if the pedal does not work properly.

When you turn the key, your engine may not start if the ignition lock switch is connected to the clutch pedal.

If your vehicle is not equipped with a clutch lockout switch, your vehicle will lean forward when you turn the key.

Keep turning the ignition on until your car's engine starts. Do not run the engine for more than five seconds or you may damage the starter or over-ignition and blow the fuse.

Your vehicle will roll consistently until it is fast enough to keep going.

When the engine starts, stop cranking and drive away slowly and carefully.

Step 3: Start the car in neutral. If you cannot start the car in gear, start it in neutral.

Vehicles with a manual transmission can be started if the gear lever is in neutral without the clutch being depressed.

With the engine running and idling, shift into first gear sharply.

Press hard, hoping the shift lever will engage. Your car will lean forward when this happens.

The engine may stall with such a sudden shift into gear. It may take several attempts to succeed.

If the shift lever engages and the engine continues to run, apply a little throttle and start accelerating slowly.

Part 2 of 3: Upshifting Without a Clutch

Upshifting is possible without a clutch. It takes a bit of practice to make quick switches, but even if you miss switching the first time, you can try again without any consequences.

Step 1: Accelerate to the point where you need to switch. Some vehicles are equipped with warnings or indicators that come on when you need to shift into the next higher gear.

Step 2: Pull the derailleur out of gear. Simultaneously release the accelerator pedal and forcefully pull the shift lever out of the current gear.

If you time it right, it shouldn't take too much effort to pull the shifter out of gear.

You want to disengage before the car slows down. If the car slows down before you get out of gear, you will need to speed up and try again.

Step 3: Shift into the next higher gear immediately.. If you were driving in first gear, you will be forced into second gear.

Shift into gear when the revs drop from the higher revs of the previous gear.

Hold the shift lever in position as the revs drop until it slips.

Step 4: Repeat attempts to force transfer as needed.. If the revs drop to idle and you haven't shifted into the next gear, rev the engine up and let it drop again by trying to force the shifter into gear.

When the shift lever shifts into gear, depress the accelerator pedal quickly to prevent the vehicle from jerking or slowing down.

There will be a significant push when engaging the next gear.

Step 5: Speed ​​up again and repeat. Increase speed and repeat to shift to the next higher gear until you reach your cruising speed.

Part 3 of 3: Downshift without Clutch

If you're slowing to a complete stop, you can simply pull the shift lever hard out of its current gear, leave it in neutral, and apply the brakes. If you are slowing down but continue to drive at a lower speed, you will need to downshift.

Step 1: When you need to downshift, pull the shifter out of the current gear.. You have a few seconds to do this, so take your time.

Step 2: RPM up to the level where you would normally upshift.. Raise the engine speed to approximately the engine speed at which you would shift to the next gear.

For example, on a gas engine, you typically upshift at about 3,000 rpm. Bring the engine up to this speed while in neutral.

Step 3: Push the shift lever hard into a lower gear.. When you are at an elevated engine speed, simultaneously release the accelerator pedal and forcibly downshift to the next lower gear.

If it doesn't work on the first try, quickly try again.

Step 4: Stop the engine. As soon as the shift lever engages a gear, give it a little throttle to keep going.

Repeat this as needed to slow down.

When it's time to stop, just abruptly disengage the shift lever and, instead of downshifting, leave it in neutral. Brake to the stop and turn off the engine.

If you are driving with a clutch that is not working properly, do so very carefully and only as a last resort. As soon as you get to your destination, have a qualified mechanic, for example from AvtoTachki, inspect your clutch and repair it if necessary.