Some people want to have their own cars, but seem to have certain problems

Well, here's the thread where you can ask any general questions regarding cars. You can even ask for advice if you want to purchase a new car. You can ask about which is the best car for you.

To all car technicians, here is also where you can show your knowledge about cars.

- When do we change a car's transmission fluid?

ok sorry if i sound completely noobish but I just bought a stick shift car and i suck ass with it. I need pointers. Help please? Im ok at shifting gears (still needs a little work tho) but I have trouble going into first gear or reverse, especially first I always get that huge jerking motion and i think im damaging my car real bad whenever i do that.

I also have trouble parking (i can park fine with automatic but not stick shift) so any pointers on that would be nice too >.<

Whenever your maintenance indicates you to.



Practice makes perfect. Alot of us have had problems starting in first when we learned. The more you drive, the smoother it will get.

Explain how you're having problems parking.

Well its just that I'm used to driving an automatic so I just put it in Drive and ease the car slowly controlling it with my pedal but you can't do that with stick shift. My friend told me a solution, to gather enough speed, put it in neutral, and THEN aim to park your car, but thats kinda hard cuz you have to then park it in one try, and if you mess up you have to do it all over again >.<

Here, do this when you have free time. Get your car on a flat surface. You're about to do some training excercises. Now at a stop with your left foot only, in first gear, slowly let off the clutch until you feel it creep a little without dying. As long as you know where you start creeping on your clutch, you should be able to park easier. Just give it a tap of gas if you let out on the clutch more. But really, if you learn how to creep, not only will you start in first better but you'll park easier.

ok but i also have another question, and I seem to be getting mixed answers. Here are two methods I learned on driving stick.

1. Press clutch all the way, shift, let go of the clutch about 1 inch, press the gas slowly, then finish letting go the rest of the clutch
2. Press clutch all they way, shift, press gas slowly, let go of clutch slowly.

I used both methods before but I want to learn the correct way. Is there a correct way or is it just a matter of preference? In my experience, shifting from neutral to first(or reverse), method 1 was easier, but when shifting up from 1st to 2nd and so on, method 2 seemed easier.


Also, when you stop at a red light on a hill, and there's a car right behind you, what do you do? Do you have to shift from neutral to first really quickly? is there another way? (my friend said that happened to him once and scared him so he used the ebrake a little bit to hold himself and did a small burnout while shifting to first lol)

I've always found the best method is to know your catch point on your car. Meaning the point where your car starts to creep without dying as I mentioned before. By knowing your catch point, you can apply the gas accordingly but it'll probably be closer to your method 2 style.

The best way to start on a hill for beginners is using the ebrake. When you become more experienced, you should be quick enough to drop the clutch without squealing tires and rolling to far back.

If I want to install sparco seats into my car what parts do I need? (btw my car is an s14)

also, I want a cold air intake. My friend suggested K&N and the local tuner guy suggested an HKS. Which one should I get?

hold brake on first gear...let go clutch 1/4th of the way till car starts to shake... let go brake and quickly go to gas but be careful u dont get freaked out and put hella gas into it or else u will burn out... dont worry wen u roll back..cuz ur rolling really slowly backwards and ur nervousness make it seem that ur rolling backwards hella fast.. and it helps for begininers to not let go of clutch all the way and ride it out first or reverse...

u just need the seats and sliders... i dont know if it will work on ur stock mounting brackets, so go to a shop and let them cut that up and adjust it for u.

http://www.sparcousa.com/seats_acc.asp

there are like 5 things for seats >.< which ones should I get

get the seat base and the track set , thats all u need

oh and some seats might need the side mounts or some drifters might want it as extra, but its optional... my bride seats required them to be on but i left it off and they feel fine. im using sparco base and sliders for mine.

whats wrong with my car if it accelerates EXTREMELY slow?
whenever i press the gas it accelerates slow even if im pushing
the gas pedal down far.

also is there a way i can fix a leaking engine myself?

You can fix anytthing by your self u just need to do some research about the model of your car and type of engine if you need some advice tell me the what car type is it and what engine does it have anyways goodluck and i hope you fix it