Clutch control and the biting point

By the end of this topic you can

• You can find the biting point by sound, feel and the car's movement.
• You can move off smoothly without stalling or jerking.
• You can creep forward slowly in queues and when manoeuvring.
• You can recover safely and calmly from a stall.

What you need to know and understand

• The biting point is where the clutch plates start to connect the engine to the wheels.
• At the biting point the engine note drops slightly and the front of the car may rise a little.
• A stall happens when the clutch comes up too quickly or with too little power, so the engine stops.
• Riding the clutch, meaning keeping it partly pressed while driving along, wears it out and reduces control.
• Every car's biting point is slightly different, so you need to find it again in a new car.
• In very tight spaces, the clutch can be used to control speed while manoeuvring.

Finding the biting point

1. Engine running, parking brake on, clutch pressed fully down.
2. Select first gear.
3. Press the accelerator gently to raise the engine speed a little, so it sounds slightly busier than tick-over.
4. Bring the clutch up slowly and smoothly until you hear the engine note dip and feel the car want to pull. Keep both feet still. That is the biting point.
5. To practise, push the clutch back down and repeat until you can find the point every time.

Creeping and slow control

Once the parking brake is off, small movements of the clutch above and below the biting point let you move at walking pace. Lift a tiny amount to move a little faster, press down a tiny amount to slow. Keep the accelerator steady. This is the skill you use in slow traffic, at junctions where you need to edge forward to see, and on manoeuvres such as parking.

Use it for short periods only. Holding the clutch at the biting point for a long time wears it. If you have to wait, apply the parking brake and select neutral.

If you stall

Stalling is normal while learning, and on the test it is not automatically a fail. What matters is that you recover safely.

1. Press the footbrake and, if needed, apply the parking brake to hold the car.
2. Press the clutch down and select neutral.
3. Restart the engine.
4. Check all around again, including your blind spots, because the situation may have changed.
5. Move off again when it is safe.

Common mistakes

• Letting the clutch up too quickly. Lift slowly to the biting point, pause, then release gently.
• Using too little gas. Give the engine a little power before you bring the clutch up.
• Revving the engine too hard. Too much gas makes the car jump when the clutch bites.
• Resting your foot on the clutch while driving. Keep your left foot flat on the floor beside it when not in use.
• Rushing the restart after a stall and forgetting to look round. Check all around before moving off again.

Test yourself: Clutch control and the biting point

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Clutch Control for Learner Drivers
• Stalled the Car? A Calm Recovery Plan for Learner Drivers