Method for controlling an inching procedure of a motor vehicle

A method for controlling a creeping maneuver of a motor vehicle having at least one automatically actuated friction clutch which is arranged so as to act between a drive unit and a gearbox, the friction clutch having a torque transmission capability that is predefined by a control unit and adjusted by a clutch actuator, the clutch actuator having a first sensor device for detecting the speed of the motor vehicle, a second sensor device for detecting an actuation of a service brake of the motor vehicle, and a third sensor device for detecting an actuation of a load lever which controls the drive unit as a function of a driver demand, the method comprising the steps of:

• starting a multi-stage creeping process with a creeping torque set at the friction clutch when the service brake is not actuated and the load lever is not actuated;
• increasing the creeping torque in a load-dependent manner up to a predefined maximum limit value in order to attain a predefined speed in a first stage;
• allowing a predefined period of time to elapse in a second stage if the predefined speed is not reached at the maximum limit value of the creeping torque;
• increasing the creeping torque by a predefined value in a third phase if the predefined speed is not reached;
• and
• reducing the creeping torque and outputting a warning to a driver in a fourth stage if the predefined speed is still not reached.