What are the consequences of starting a manual transmission car in gear?
2 Answers
The consequences of starting a manual transmission car in gear include: 1. Damaging the starter; 2. Harming the parking brake; 3. Causing wear to car components; 4. Easily leading to the vehicle lurching forward and causing an accident. The correct steps to start a manual transmission car are: 1. Press the clutch pedal all the way down; 2. Push the gear lever to engage first gear, the starting gear; 3. Lightly press the turn signal lever downward to activate the left turn signal, alerting vehicles in front and behind; 4. Press the horn button to alert pedestrians in front of the vehicle that you are about to start; 5. Release the vehicle's handbrake; 6. Lift the left foot gradually until the clutch is at the half-clutch point, and the vehicle begins to vibrate slightly; 7. As the vehicle starts to move, release the clutch and gently press the accelerator.
I've been driving manual transmission cars for over twenty years, and once I forgot that my gear was in first and started the engine directly. The car shot forward instantly, nearly hitting the garage door, which gave me a real scare. The consequences of starting the engine in gear are no joke—the sudden lurch can make the car surge forward or backward violently. If you do this on a slope or in traffic, it could easily cause an accident. Not only could it result in injuries or vehicle damage, but the starter and clutch also get forcibly strained, leading to increased wear and tear, with repairs costing at least a few hundred bucks. Now, I've made it a habit to press the clutch, shift to neutral, and then start the engine—it's steady and safe. New drivers are prone to making this mistake, so I recommend practicing neutral starts regularly to avoid errors in a rush.
