Should You Shift to Neutral When Stalling on a Slope?
3 Answers
After stalling on a slope, what you need to do is not shift to neutral, but immediately step on the brake. Here are some precautions for starting on a slope: Always apply throttle when starting on a slope: When on a slope, if you don't apply throttle, it's likely that the idle speed won't be sufficient to move the vehicle on the slope, causing it to stall. Once the vehicle starts rolling backward, it becomes even more difficult to handle. Throttle and clutch coordination: This refers to the sequence of operations: throttle first, then clutch. The throttle has no travel, while the clutch does. Travel refers to the process from initiating an action to when the action takes effect. During a test, stepping on the clutch first is considered coasting in neutral. After continuously applying the brake to a certain extent, the car body will shake, indicating that due to the resistance from the brake, the engine can no longer drive the gears to perform work.
I'm all too familiar with stalling on a slope – after driving manual for over a decade, I've encountered this situation many times. The first reaction after stalling is to firmly press the brake to prevent rolling backward, while immediately shifting to neutral. Starting the engine while in gear is particularly dangerous, as a sudden lurch forward could cause an accident. Once in neutral, you can safely restart the engine. After starting, don't rush to move off – first engage the handbrake firmly, then shift into first gear. Gradually release the clutch to the biting point until you feel a slight shudder in the car body, then add some throttle while slowly releasing the handbrake, and the car will start smoothly. The key to hill starts is steadiness – stay calm and maintain fluid movements throughout the process.
As someone who frequently commutes by car, stalling on a slope can indeed be nerve-wracking. My habit is to immediately press the brake pedal firmly after stalling and shift the gear back to neutral. This makes restarting the engine safer and prevents the car from suddenly lurching forward. After restarting, don't forget to first engage the handbrake, then shift into first gear to start. Slowly release the clutch with your left foot while gently pressing the accelerator with your right foot, and only release the handbrake when you feel the car starting to move forward. I've practiced this routine many times, and even on particularly steep slopes, I can start smoothly, mainly to avoid rolling back and causing a rear-end collision.
