Manual transmission, while sitting at a stop...

[Hypoid]

Manual transmission, while sitting at a stop:

A) Do you put the tranny in neutral, and take your foot off the clutch pedal?

B) Do you keep the tranny in gear, and hold the clutch in?

C) Why do it that way?

I've heard reasons for the first part of the question. I don't recall ever hearing a reason for keeping the tranny in gear, while sitting at a stop.

[Robert B]

i always do neutral and let the clutch up.......one my trucks clutch is the old stiff style which i like but it will kill your leg to hold it for a long light....and 2 i think it puts excessive wear on the clutch parts .......there is also the great chance you wond hold it 100% of the way down and let it just enough to glaze the clutch surface at it hardly touches the flywheel........kinda like having an E-brake on 1 click and driving....other than that its just how i was tought :)

[4Runninfun]

I'll usually throw it in neutral. No sense keeping it pushed in if there isn't need.

[Rob]

Neutral, clutch out. Always done it that way.

[Popsgarage]

Neutral, clutch out. Dad taught me that one a long time ago.

[Jim]

Depends upon how long I'll be "sitting"

If short duration...
In Gear w/ clutch in - the throwout bearing is being used/worn (OK but not great)

If long duration...
Out of gear w/ clutch out - you'll likely wear the synchro's of the first gear you engage.
(often, instead of pushing into first and wearing those synchros, I'll click into a different gear (3 or 4) to stop the clutch from spinning and then move to first [i'd guess the first gear synchros get the most use/abuse out of the bunch])

EDIT

I don't recall ever hearing a reason for keeping the tranny in gear, while sitting at a stop.

From motorcycle days - one big reason for leaving it in gear is if you're the last vehicle (or even second or third to last) in a line of traffic. Should a vehicle behind NOT stop you can quickly whack the gas, dump the clutch and move forward/out/escape - I'd often keep an eye on the mirror in those situations (perhaps wheels to the side to escape). A quite rare issue, and one a bit more difficult on a wide vehicle (vs. a motorcycle that can readily fit between or beside an in-front vehicle).

[KnuckleHead]

I've always brought it to neutral clutch out...... heard it can put a little more wear on things always going back in gear but I get tired of holding the clutch in myself....

[Patrolman]

Neutral and clutch out to avoid any wear on the throwout bearing or other parts.

[glacierpaul]

I mostly do A, but lean to what Jim said. I do A, because of the old Jeep syndrome. Luckily for me, here in Clear Creek County, there are no stop lights only signs.
I was told for safety reasons to always leave the vehicle in gear. It is illegal to cruise down the road with the vehicle out of gear, it may be the same while sitting at an intersection.
I could see both ways failing though, in the right scenario.

[Java]

I almost always do A. When I was learning stick as a kid I was told to treat the clutch like it was hot. I almost never downshift to slow down either- clutches are expensive and difficult compared to brakes!

[RidgeRunner]

Most of the time A, if I know it's going to be a short wait then B. Main reason is wear on the clutch parts, specifically the throw out bearing.

[Beefy]

Usually A to give my leg a break. :lmao:

I downshift to slow down though. It's habit and how I was taught.

On a motorcycle, B because I might have to get the hell out of dodge and there's no cage. :D

[Tom]

Neutral, clutch out. Always done it that way. Less wear and tear on the throwout bearing.

[trailfiend]

I'd always do A as well, mainly because if for whatever reason I forgot I was in gear or my foot slipped off the clutch, slamming the car into gear, I didn't want to go through that wonderful jarring of the truck.... or bumping into another car.

[Warrlord]

Here's a reason to not have the clutch depressed at every stop light all the time ;)

Here's a good reason to NOT sit at a stop light with the clutch pedal depressed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdl7texNgBk)

[Heather]

I almost always do A. When I was learning stick as a kid I was told to treat the clutch like it was hot. I almost never downshift to slow down either- clutches are expensive and difficult compared to brakes!

All of this - except I learned to leave the clutch out after frying a high school boyfriend's clutch. He was letting (encouraging) me do multiple burnouts in his Saab 900 turbo. THEN I started always treating it like it was hot. Felt awful.

[Funrover]

Neutral, off the clutch. Always done that. Some folks stay on the clutch and in gear for safety. They can move if needed or the car will stall if in a wreck.

[Rick]

mostly A except if I'm on a hill then B with it acting as a brake

[Tom]

mostly A except if I'm on a hill then B with it acting as a brakeGotta love the new toys. My 2012 wrangler applies the brake when I'm on a hill.

[Rick]

My 2012 wrangler applies the brake when I'm on a hill. nice!!!!!

[Tom]

nice!!!!!Very.

[Chris]

Gotta love the new toys. My 2012 wrangler applies the brake when I'm on a hill.

I was please to find mine does that too though it's an auto tranny

[Tom]

Mine's a manual 6 speed. I discovered it when I first went wheeling in it. Stopped on a hill going up and when I took my foot of the brake to proceed it didn't roll back. I checked the manual. Its part of the ABS system. Can turn it off it I want though via the dashboard menu.

[Jim]

Mine's a manual 6 speed. I discovered it when I first went wheeling in it. Stopped on a hill going up and when I took my foot of the brake to proceed it didn't roll back. I checked the manual. Its part of the ABS system. Can turn it off it I want though via the dashboard menu.

So, if you wanted to roll back, how would you have done that with this feature?

[Beefy]

So, if you wanted to roll back, how would you have done that with this feature?

He can turn it off in the computer menus.

Pretty cool feature.

[CodeXJ]

At a stop you should let the clutch out and in neutral. if you hold it down your put more stress on the throwout bearing, and can shorten its life span up to 6x.
Second, downshifting actually ruins your transmission faster. Yes, it can help and it won't break it in one night but if you are constantly downshifting to slow down then your will ruin the transmission.

I can tell you a lot more things, due to over a few months of research gathered. I'm a research guru haha!

[Tom]

So, if you wanted to roll back, how would you have done that with this feature?Turn it off.

[Jim]

Turn it off.

So I guess I should elaborate on my question: To turn it off you have to process through some / several menus on the vehicle controls system? I would think there would be some quick action like a "double-press of the brake lever" that would turn it off for that instance (and that the vehicle controls system would be a more permanent on/off setting).

[CS79bronco]

The '87 Subaru we had way back then would release the "hill-holder" feature if you let the clutch pedal out past a certain point. Once you got used to it, it was easy to let it hold or let go & roll back.
I always go to neutral & let the clutch out at lights, unless I can see that the light will change soon.

[Tom]

So I guess I should elaborate on my question: To turn it off you have to process through some / several menus on the vehicle controls system? I would think there would be some quick action like a "double-press of the brake lever" that would turn it off for that instance (and that the vehicle controls system would be a more permanent on/off setting).Haven't played with it that much. Did notice when I left work that if I dropped it into reverse w/o letting off the clutch it would roll back.

[Brad]

Always in gear with clutch depressed. I have driven for a living for about ten years, as a package delivery driver, home theatre delivery etc, etc. I have avoided 3 accidents because of this habit. I generally leave a gap and have envision every escape mode at every stop I make as a extra sense. I stand by my method as I have only had 1 small fender bender in 25 years of driving. I have never had premature bearing or clutch wear as a result. Have owned 30+ manual cars.

[Jim]

Re Hill Hold (threadjack, sorta)

I did a quick search and found an "I don't like it" post. In the post, the writer commented on "blipping the gas" to release the hill hold before commenting on finding how to shut it off in the vehicle control system.

Hill-holder feature.... thumbs down - JeepForum.com (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/hill-holder-feature-thumbs-down-1263156/)