Clutching too late?

ccyy123

Probably a stupid question, but this is really confusing me, see my instructor keeps saying that I clutch too late when I stop at a junction. What I did is, slow down to 2nd within the 20 meters of a junction, brake fully at the stop sign and clutch in and change to first gear.
Everytime I do it he would say that I put the clutch in too late, I don't really get it since the car never cuts out.

Leeg17

ccyy123 wrote: »

Probably a stupid question, but this is really confusing me, see my instructor keeps saying that I clutch too late when I stop at a junction. What I did is, slow down to 2nd within the 20 meters of a junction, brake fully at the stop sign and clutch in and change to first gear.
Everytime I do it he would say that I put the clutch in too late, I don't really get it since the car never cuts out.

I usually clutch in in second around 5kmph, 10 even because my car is petrol. Press the clutch when you know that if you go any slower the car will cut out.

**Timbuk2**

If you listen to the engine carefully while you are stopping, you will hear it start to labour just a few seconds before you come to a full stop. You should put in the clutch just before it starts to labour, otherwise the car will become jerky and subsequently conk out.

ccyy123

Leeg17 wrote: »

I usually clutch in in second around 5kmph, 10 even because my car is petrol. Press the clutch when you know that if you go any slower the car will cut out.

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

If you listen to the engine carefully while you are stopping, you will hear it start to labour just a few seconds before you come to a full stop. You should put in the clutch just before it starts to labour, otherwise the car will become jerky and subsequently conk out.

Thanks, I think I may get it now, but it's very hard to get it right, especially the car never did cut out on me in all those times when he said that I was too late. I will see if I improve in my next lesson.

**Timbuk2**

ccyy123 wrote: »

Thanks, I think I may get it now, but it's very hard to get it right, especially the car never did cut out on me in all those times when he said that I was too late. I will see if I improve in my next lesson.

If it never did cut out, maybe you weren't wrong? Did the car sound like it was on the verge of cutting out?

What I usually do if I am approaching a stop sign, or a red traffic light, is use the brakes to stop (not changing down gears) and a few metres before I stop, I will press the clutch and while I am coming to a complete stop, I will put it in 1st gear (without engaging the gear). This saves times and allows me to go as soon as I see a gap. I did this in my test and didn't get marked for it.

Leeg17

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

If it never did cut out, maybe you weren't wrong? Did the car sound like it was on the verge of cutting out?

What I usually do if I am approaching a stop sign, or a red traffic light, is use the brakes to stop (not changing down gears) and a few metres before I stop, I will press the clutch and while I am coming to a complete stop, I will put it in 1st gear (without engaging the gear). This saves times and allows me to go as soon as I see a gap. I did this in my test and didn't get marked for it.

What do you mean by that?

What I usually do is near the same, but I gear down to 2nd (usually straight from 4th), then go into first. Our car is a diesel and if you go below 10kmph in 2nd it dies without much warning.

**Timbuk2**

Sorry, I meant I would move the gearstick to 1st without taking the clutch out (as I am stopping) in anticipation of moving off again.

justshane

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

If you listen to the engine carefully while you are stopping, you will hear it start to labour just a few seconds before you come to a full stop. You should put in the clutch just before it starts to labour, otherwise the car will become jerky and subsequently conk out.

Was going to reply but Timbuk2 summed up exactly what i was going to say. Just takes practice on your car an you will soon know the second it is about to become jerky.

ccyy123

Thank you for all of your advices, I will try to listen to the car next time and see if I get it or not.

challengemaster

Maybe the instructor was using the dual controls to stop you cutting out?

ccyy123

Ok, just finished lesson, I was listening to the car and I clutched in just before the car started to stutter. Only once did I clutch in too late(that was when I was just finishing up my lesson), so thank you very much!!!

leahyl

Ok after reading this i think i am clutching way too early!! I put my clutch in at like 15km! I just feel like it will cut out otherwise even though it prob won't!

Driving not going so well for me at the mo - was told my dad today that it's "worse i'm getting"....nice...:(