Will the car stall when braking from 4th gear to 20 mph?
2 Answers
Generally, the car won't stall when braking from 4th gear to 20 mph, but it may stall if you keep the clutch partially engaged after the car comes to a complete stop. Below are instructions on how to downshift from 4th gear and the correct steps to restart the car after stalling: Method for downshifting from 4th gear: When in 4th gear, the speed is usually between 40-60 km/h. First, lightly press the brake to reduce the speed to around 30-40 km/h. If the speed drops too low, gently press the accelerator to maintain a speed of 30-40 km/h. Then, fully depress the clutch, shift into 3rd gear, and slowly release the clutch until it's completely engaged. This completes the downshift from 4th to 3rd gear. After downshifting, if the speed feels too low, lightly press the accelerator to maintain the appropriate speed range for 3rd gear, which is typically 20-40 km/h. Correct steps to restart the car after stalling: First, shift the gear back to neutral and then start the engine; turn on the left turn signal, flash the lights (or honk in some areas), check the left and right rearview mirrors, depress the clutch, and shift into 1st gear; look at the left rearview mirror, place your right hand on the handbrake, slightly lift it, and press the release button; release the clutch to the semi-engaged position until the engine slightly vibrates, and once it's safe to start, naturally release the handbrake completely.
When driving a manual transmission car, if you keep braking in 4th gear without depressing the clutch and slow the speed down to around 20 km/h, the engine will almost certainly stall. This happens because 4th gear is a relatively high gear ratio. When the speed drops to 20 km/h, the engine RPM also decreases accordingly, likely falling below normal idle speed. At such low RPM, the engine simply can't generate enough torque to move the vehicle's weight - similar to how you can't pedal effectively when cycling in a high gear. From my driving experience, you need to be alert when speed drops to about 40 km/h - either depress the clutch to disengage power or quickly downshift. Otherwise, the car will suddenly jerk a few times before stalling. When stalling occurs, the steering wheel becomes heavier and the brake pedal stiffens, significantly compromising safety. I recommend frequently glancing at the tachometer during deceleration - when you see RPM dropping below 1500, it's time to prepare for a gear change.