Do you leave it in gear at a red light?

[ClutchFork]

I am curious as I have heard some people do this. I would NEVER leave it in gear through a red light, holding the clutch pedal down the whole time. It has to be bad for the release bearing. It could also result in a launch into traffic if you get distracted or your foot slipped off the pedal for some reason. Normally I wait for the light to change to green, throw it into gear and go. If lighting conditions permit, I will eyeball the cross traffic's light and throw it into gear on their yellow. Only time I might be in gear at a red light is if I need to move our really quick to get in front of another car, which situation is better avoided in the first place.

[MFan]

My stop light etiquette is similar to yours.

[theholycow]

I don't do it, because I'm lazy. I don't want to sit there holding the clutch pedal down. Like you, I watch cross-traffic's light and prepare when I predict I will get a green. I think the concern about the release bearing is, like so many other things, overstated.

As for the concern about an accidental launch: I don't think that's an issue. If your foot slips off the clutch you will just stall. You mentioned in another thread your concern about wanting to cruise at high RPM in a low gear so you can have instant acceleration; a much more important concern IMO is suddenly needing to launch. If you're worried about that kind of safety, it would be best to stay in gear and ready to go when stopped. When you're already moving you can use brakes and steering, when when you're at a stop your ONLY evasive maneuver is accelerating.

[Shadow]

I am curious as I have heard some people do this. I would NEVER leave it in gear through a red light, holding the clutch pedal down the whole time. It has to be bad for the release bearing.

I've done it, but only if I know the light will be changing quickly. Other than a situation like that, I'd normally take the car out of gear. As far as the clutch release bearing (more commonly known as a "throwout bearing"), I'm not too concerned. The throwout bearing in most cars is pretty robust and should outlast the clutch disc, no matter how much abuse it is subjected to. And of course it is always recommended to replace the throwout bearing when installing a new clutch, so someone who can be considered an "abusive" driver will probably need a new clutch sooner than most.

It could also result in a launch into traffic if you get distracted or your foot slipped off the pedal for some reason. .

If your foot slips off the clutch (has that actually ever happened to anyone here?), the car would stall, so no real worries there. It's not like the car would fling itself into an intersection or anything, unless of course your right foot was hard on the accelerator at the time.

[ClutchFork]

You got me there. Foot slips off it will stall, but perhaps move a few feet. I don't know.

As for throwout bearings lasting, my slave was changed at 70,000 but not the throwout and the throwout seized at 80,000 miles, of course trashing the new slave. Guess I just had a bad one. A new throwout would have made sense at 70,000 when they did the slave.

[ClutchDisc]

Never. I wait until the light turns green, throw it into gear, and go.

[Rope-Pusher]

I remove the driveshafts and disconnect the battery, because "You Never Know!"....

[ClutchFork]

I remove the driveshafts and disconnect the battery, because "You Never Know!"....

Also should chock the wheels.

[Rope-Pusher]

I remove the driveshafts and disconnect the battery, because "You Never Know!"....

Also should chock the wheels.

You are ridicule

[bk7794]

I agree with you aswell. Though sometimes I need to get it into gear quickly and with my transmission being worn out I tend to shift into gear a bit earlier. But I never wait with the clutch pushed in for more than 15-30 seconds I'd say, max.

[tankinbeans]

Depends on my mood. Most of the time it's out of gear for most of the light and then pooped in shortly before a change. However, sometimes I'm just lazy and just keep in gear holding the clutch. Luckily my clutch isn't too heavy.

[bk7794]

Depends on my mood. Most of the time it's out of gear for most of the light and then pooped in shortly before a change. However, sometimes I'm just lazy and just keep in gear holding the clutch. Luckily my clutch isn't too heavy.

Took me a few times to figure out what you were trying to say

[theholycow]

I remove the driveshafts and disconnect the battery, because "You Never Know!"....

Also should chock the wheels.

You are ridicule

Agreed. You should let the air out of the tires and add a parking enforcement boot.

Depends on my mood. Most of the time it's out of gear for most of the light and then pooped in shortly before a change. However, sometimes I'm just lazy and just keep in gear holding the clutch. Luckily my clutch isn't too heavy.

Took me a few times to figure out what you were trying to say

Well, wouldn't you change shortly after pooping in?

[Gerard]

lol.......you said poop

[bk7794]

lol.......you said poop