What launch control does
At the start line you want the engine sitting at a repeatable rpm, with a turbo car carrying some boost, ready for the clutch or trans-brake to release. The Elite's launch control does that by switching in a temporary rev limiter while launch is active, together with dedicated fuel and ignition tables that only apply during launch. Once the conditions drop away, the engine goes back to its normal limiter and maps.
Holding an engine on a limiter with retarded timing makes a lot of heat in the exhaust manifold, turbo and valvetrain, and a hard launch loads the clutch, gearbox, driveshafts, differential and crank. Launch control is for experienced users with a driveline built for it.
Step 1: choose what enables it
| Input Type | Launch is armed when | Setup note |
|---|---|---|
| Always On | Every condition on the Launch Control tab is met | Rely on the validations below to keep it out of the way |
| Launch Switch | A dedicated switch wired to the ECU is on | Pick an SPI or AVI for it |
| Clutch Switch | The clutch pedal is pressed | Set up the Clutch Switch function first |
| Trans-Brake Input | The trans-brake is active | Set up the Trans-Brake function first |
Wiring a launch switch
A launch switch can go to an SPI or an AVI (Analog Voltage Input).
- SPI: Edge Select is Falling when pressing the switch grounds the input, and Rising when pressing it feeds voltage in. Sensor Type is Hall Effect for switches. Enable the Pullup if the input needs something holding it high while the switch is open.
- AVI: set a Switch On Voltage and a Switch Off Voltage close to what the input really reads in each state, with a healthy gap in between so noise can't toggle it. For a switch that grounds an input normally held near 5 V, on below about 1 V and off above about 4 V works well.
A Haltech switch panel is a tidy way to add an arming switch.
Step 2: the Launch Control tab
| Setting | What it does | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Cut Method | Limits rpm with fuel or ignition. Hard or soft cut follows the RPM Limiter setting | Ignition is what we use on most cars |
| Enable Coolant Validation / Min Coolant Temp | Launch is blocked until coolant is above this temperature | Always use it. Nobody should launch a cold engine |
| Enable TPS Validation / Min TPS | Throttle must be above this for launch to work | Stops the limiter catching you when you just want to creep |
| Enable Vehicle Speed Validation / Max Vehicle Speed | Launch only works below this speed | Essential with Always On or Clutch Switch, or every shift at speed will hit the launch limiter |
Step 3: the launch tables
Fuel Enrichment
An up to 3D (8x8) correction applied only while launch is active, usually mapped against rpm and load. Extra fuel near launch rpm helps a turbo spool and keeps exhaust temperatures in check. Everywhere away from the actual launch rpm and load, keep the cells at 0% so it has no effect.
Ignition Advance
This one catches people out. It isn't a correction. While launch is active, this 8x8 table replaces the base ignition map, and its numbers are real timing values. Fill it with your normal timing across most of the table, then retard only around the launch rpm and load. That retard is what builds exhaust energy and boost on the line without making much torque.
Worked example
Say a turbo manual car launches with the clutch switch. We would enable coolant validation so it can't launch cold, set a low max vehicle speed so gear changes on the move aren't caught, and add TPS validation so the limiter only engages with real throttle. In the Ignition Advance table, the cells around launch rpm get pulled back until boost builds on the line, and the cells away from it copy the main map. Check exhaust temperatures and keep launch holds short.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Usually |
|---|---|
| Launch limiter hits during gear changes | Max Vehicle Speed validation not enabled, or set too high |
| Launch never activates | Coolant or TPS validation not met, or switch edge/voltages wrong |
| Engine bogs or misfires on the line | Ignition Advance table is empty or zeroed away from launch rpm |
| Little boost on the line | Not enough retard near launch rpm, or not enough load |
If you run a turbo car, look at anti-lag and boost control next. For a drag car, flat shift pairs well with launch.
FAQ
Does launch control use its own rev limit?
Yes. It applies a temporary limiter only while launch is active, using the cut method you choose.
Why is my timing so low on launch?
Because the Ignition Advance table replaces your base map while launch is on. Any cell left at zero means zero degrees of timing.
