The clutch pedal is operated with your left foot and on the left of the group of three pedals.

 

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The clutch is the connection between the engine and the gear box. The clutch consists of a pair of friction plates which are pulled apart when the clutch is pressed down. When the clutch pedal is pressed down, it disconnects the engine from the driving wheels, which allows the car to stop without stalling the engine. Pressing the clutch pedal down also allows you to change gear.

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As you let the clutch pedal up, the two plates touch and power starts to be transmitted to the wheels. The point of engagement, when the two plates begin to make contact and the load on the engine increases, is known as the ‘biting point’. The further you release the clutch pedal, the more power is transmitted. Once the clutch pedal is fully released the clutch plates lock together and all the power from the engine is delivered to the wheels.

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If you forget to press the clutch down when coming to a stop, your car will stall.

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Pulling away on the flat

First, press the clutch pedal down and select 1st gear, then gently press the accelerator pedal to raise the engine revs just above idle. These extra revs are important as they will provide extra power to help avoid stalling. Next, lift the clutch pedal up a little until you feel the clutch start to bite. You need to find just the right amount of clutch bite point; too little and the car won’t move, too much and it will judder or stall.

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Try listening for the engine note deepening or look for the nose of the car rising a little as it strains against the handbrake, then release the handbrake and keep both feet still as the car starts to roll forward. This will allow the clutch biting point to gently get the car rolling smoothly. Lift the clutch up fully once the car is at about walking pace and continue driving. Be patient and wait until walking pace before lifting the clutch pedal fully. If you try to lift it up too early or in one go, the clutch will bite too quickly, which will probably stall the engine.

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Hill Start

It’s the same drill as for pulling away on the flat, but with a little more revs to provide extra power to get the car moving uphill. To avoid your car rolling backwards, you must use accelerator, clutch and handbrake together.

• with your left foot, press the clutch pedal all the way down

• put the car into 1st gear

• with your right foot, apply pressure on the accelerator pedal, a little bit more than you would when starting on the level (enough to help the car get uphill) and hold it perfectly steady

• slowly bring the clutch up to the biting point (it will be slightly higher than when you’re pulling away on the flat)

• make sure you check your mirrors, check your blind spots, signal if necessary and when it’s safe, gently release the handbrake

• gradually press the accelerator pedal as you pull away, keep your feet still for at least two to three seconds of moving off and once you build up momentum, let the clutch come up slowly

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Stop-Start

Another time you will need good clutch control is when you are driving in stop-start traffic. At first, you just use 1st gear and the clutch biting point to edge forward slowly. The useful clutch technique in traffic is to let the car roll along slowly with the engine idling, so once you change into 2nd gear, you let the car roll along without pressing any pedals, although you should keep our feet ready to react in case you need to stop quickly. When you need to reduce speed, just push the clutch pedal down to reduce the drive to the wheels and use the brakes as needed.

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Reversing

When manoeuvring, it’s important to keep the car speed very slow, around 1 mph. If you lift the clutch pedal just enough that the clutch is starting to bite, it will give enough drive to move the car slowly. From there, you can change the car speed by adjusting the amount of clutch bite, lift the pedal a little more to increase drive or push the pedal down a little to reduce drive or stop the car.

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