Is it just me?

[Autieangel]

So when Ive mentioned this to other people they look at me confused leading me to think this is a me issue.

When I'm driving and I pull up to a junction i sometimes forget to put the car into first so I will try to set off in second gear. In the past in older cars the car would make a noise I would instantly realise put it in the correct gear and set off.

Now in my current car the car will set off as tho there is no issue and then after a few seconds the engine will cut out completely leaving me halfway across a roundabout or in the middle of a junction frantically trying to restart the engine.

This happens in my car, my last car and my husbands car so I'm assuming it's a newer car thing. It seems really dangerous that a car will completely cut the engine out rendering you unable to move for being in the wrong gear. Does this genuinely never happen to anyone else?

Very rarely stall if I misjudge the biting point (we have two cars and if I don't drive one for ages I feel the difference) but as I'm in first gear it just doesn't move. It doesn't really matter what everyone else does - what matters is that you're repeatedly making a mistake. You need to retrain your driving habits. When you approach a junction, you need to consciously either go into first or (if you're stopping for more than a few seconds) put it in neutral and stick the handbrake on. Getting into that habit will stop your bad habits.

I have an automatic so I never stall. Pedal one makes it go vroom, pedal two makes it stop - easy as anything. I'd highly recommend an automatic.

I'm by no means a perfect driver. No, I don't routinely stall the car. It's downright dangerous, especially in a car with an automatic choke where it tries to stop itself stalling and can unexpectedly speed up if you're going slowly in too high a gear. Or if you do stall you suddenly stop with no brake lights, the person behind you won't have any idea you're stopping. I'm surprised no one has crashed into the back of you.

I very very rarely stall my car or van, as I don’t have a death wish I never drive into oncoming traffic. If you forget that you need to be in 1st to pull of, I would question whether your currently safe to be on the road.

Same here. I always realise it ASAP. How can you not?

Hi OP,

As this is something that happens regularly, just try change your habits.

So instead of coming to a stop in 2nd gear and waiting to go, when you come to a stop at the junction/roundabout, put it in first gear straight away as you stop.

As you get into the habit, it will just become second nature and hopefully you no longer have any issues.

This is you.

I did forget during driving lessons at the start, but you get into the habit after a few errors.

I think you need a couple of refresher lessons.

So if you cause an accident it's not your fault because your other car did something different?

its a you problem

If a car stalls and another car hits it, it's the car behind fault as they did not leave enough braking space.

I have never had a car accident

Because there doesn't seem to be an issue? So I set off the car drives a few feet. No engine noise issue or sign of concern. Then the engine cuts dead.

Thank you great advice

I always go into neutral when I stop so I can take my foot off the clutch

But you have seen lots in your rear view mirrors! 😆

Seriously though, the engine may be shutting down to prevent damage hence why it is not making any distressed noises?
Modern engines don't just rely on mechanical sympathy to prevent damage, the various sensors may be seeing that speed/revs/gear are incompatible and shut it down instead. Do you get any form of warning light on the dash when it stalls?

You're a dangerous driver who can't control your car. Get an automatic or learn to drive your car properly.

I drive an auto now but no, I almost never stalled when I drove a manual. Nobody else I know stalls a car unless they’re unfamiliar with it e.g. a hire car that has a clutch very different to that of their own car.

You seem to have got into the habit of leaving it in second when you stop, and driving off from a standstill in second without enough revs. You need to unlearn this habit. Whenever you stop the car, you put in in first to drive off. You just need to remember.

Learn to drive, problem solved! Stopping & pulling off safely is something you learn in the first lesson. It’s really not difficult.

You’re dangerous & going to cause an accident one day.

Been driving 15 years. Never stall. Did a few times at traffic lights after passing. Don’t think I have done since.

Yeah that’s exactly how I drive. Slow down to second, then first. So it’s already in first when I come to “set off”

The sign of concern is the very low acceleration and the engine tone not rising rapidly as it should when you pull away in first. It seems you’ve just got used to this.
If you just do what @feelingstick said you should train yourself out of the bad habit.

I’ve stalled mine today for the first time in many years because I started off in second. However, I was in a bit of a flap as I realised my phone had fallen out of my pocket in town and I was racing back to the place I parked to find it.

Otherwise I really never stall my car. I’ve been driving over 30 years, I always put my car in first gear when I stop at the lights, I will sometimes even take it out and put it back in first before the lights change, just to make sure I am in first gear.

I’ve only been driving for nearly 2 years but was always taught to put it in second approaching a roundabout then drop to first if I needed to stop at the roundabout, the same with open junctions. If I knew I was going to have to stop the car then it would be in first as approaching before the car was even fully stopped.
Pulling off in 2nd isn’t necessarily a danger if you can do it properly without stalling. I did this on my actual test and because the car didn’t stall and I maintained full control of the car I didn’t even get a minor for it.

You are a dangerous driver. Sort your shit out before you cause an accident

You're stalling the car. It's not cutting out because of an engine issue, you're in too high a gear for the speed.

Newer cars can move off in second, but to maintain that it needs gas, which I assume is why it's after you've travelled a short distance and not instantly.

We've probably all stalled a car where the bite point is unfamiliar. I last saw someone do it in a queue at traffic lights when they weren't watching the flow of traffic and tried to rush when they saw the gap they'd left (looking at their phone).

Take your time and check you're in the correct gear first. If you realise you've made a mistake, you can dip the clutch and put it into first gear!