Will the Car Stall If You Press the Clutch and Brake Together?
3 Answers
Pressing the clutch and brake simultaneously will not cause the car to stall: Disadvantages of pressing the clutch and brake together: This is not good for the vehicle. The correct way to stop the car is when driving at high speed, if not in an emergency, first press the brake to reduce the speed to about 25 km/h, then press the clutch while firmly pressing the brake. Stopping by downshifting: When driving at low speed, press the clutch first and then the brake. In case of emergency braking: If it's an emergency, press the brake directly, using both the braking system and the engine to stop the car. This will indeed cause the car to stall, but in an emergency, safety is more important.
I've been driving manual transmission for almost thirty years, and I can confidently say that pressing the clutch and brake together will never stall the engine. When you press the clutch, the connection between the engine and the transmission is completely cut off. At this point, the engine only spins on its own and has nothing to do with the wheels. Pressing the brake only stops the wheels and doesn't affect the engine's operation. In actual driving, when approaching a red light, I usually start braking from about 200-300 meters away to slow down. When the speed drops to around 30 km/h, I press both the clutch and brake together, and the car comes to a smooth stop with the tachometer needle comfortably resting at 800 RPM. However, if you only press the brake without the clutch, that's when you might actually stall the engine, especially at low speeds where it's easier to choke the engine to a stop.
Last time my friend's new manual transmission car stalled inexplicably, and after inspection, it turned out to be carbon buildup in the idle speed control valve. Normally, pressing both the clutch and brake pedals simultaneously in a functioning vehicle wouldn't cause stalling. The mechanical principle is straightforward: the clutch pedal controls the clutch assembly, and pressing it disengages power transmission from the flywheel. At this point, the engine operates freely as if in neutral, completely independent of the brake system. I've consulted numerous repair manuals that clearly state the brake system only manages hydraulic braking and is solely related to wheel speed. As long as the engine itself is functioning properly with stable idle, operating both pedals simultaneously poses no issue at all. Those who claim stalling occurs are likely experiencing throttle body or spark plug issues—I recommend prioritizing inspection of these components during routine maintenance.
