How to Decelerate in Second Gear Without Stalling?
2 Answers
Depressing the clutch while decelerating in second gear will prevent stalling. Below are detailed instructions for shifting without stalling: 1. When downshifting: Follow the technique mantra of 'press (clutch), shift to neutral, release (clutch), add (throttle), press (clutch), engage (lower gear)'. As long as the speed is appropriate, you can skip gears when downshifting. 2. When shifting gears: When upshifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the speed should reach 15-20 km/h; from 2nd to 3rd gear, 25-35 km/h; from 3rd to 4th gear, 35-45 km/h; and from 4th to 5th gear, 45-55 km/h. This also applies to downshifting. 3. Different speeds: When the speed is relatively low, generally within 30 km/h, first press the brake and then the clutch to prevent the engine from stalling due to braking at low speeds. When the speed is higher, above 30 km/h, you need to first press the brake to reduce the speed (to 20-30 km/h) and simultaneously press the clutch to bring the car to a stop.
I've been driving manual transmission for over a decade. The key to downshifting to second gear without stalling lies in coordinating the clutch and throttle. When decelerating, don't immediately depress the clutch pedal completely. First, release the throttle to let the engine naturally reduce the vehicle speed. When the RPM drops to around 1,000, gently press the clutch to shift gears or brake. Especially in stop-and-go traffic, lightly rest your right foot on the brake pedal to control speed. If you feel the car is about to stall, gently tap the throttle to maintain RPM above 1,200 - this prevents the engine from coughing and stalling. Remember: when vehicle speed is too low, clutch engagement should be quick while throttle application must be smooth.
