OK - before everyone grabs their flamethrowers, please understand that I've spent 2 nights trying to use the funky search to find the answer to this question and have yet to find the answer.

Can anyone tell me exactly what the Launch Control and Competition Mode do on our cars? I've read a bunch of posts that imply things but I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to post up a summary or direct me to a previous answer. Thanks!

 

The first time I went to the strip I asked if I should use Launch Control I was advised not to. I cant remember off the top of my head what Comp Mode does. What I was told to do was to turn ESC off by holding the TC button down for 10 secs until you see ESC OFF on the DIC and then slip the clutch a bit off the launch and roll into the throttle, dont NLS 1st-2nd.

 

I turned my launch control down to 3200RPMs and I don't NLS at all.

 

I'm assuming OP is stock, and I have read many tuned owners dont NLS either. I am stock as well so I NLS.

 

It's fine to NLS 1-2 if you're stock/GMS1, just don't do it when your tires are cold or you'll spin most of second and shift at like 5800-5900 instead. But it's the trickiest one to get down.

Competition Mode just means you have Traction Control off and Launch Control enabled. LC means it will hold your rpms at 5000 and you can just slowly let the clutch out to launch but not too slow. It's so you have boost to start with. I wouldn't really use it unless you have some stickier tires.

 

Comp mode. = Traction control off + ESC on. The ESC (electronic stability control) will independantly apply each brake and limit wheel spin to keep control of the car in tight handling situations.

Traction off = traction control completely off.

ECS off = EVerything off.

Launch control = holds rpm when in first gear with clutch fully depressed and throttle 100%. Stock rpm it holds is 5500rpm? I forget. I never use it. It allows you to just focus on letting off the clutch and not balance feathering the throttle.

NLS (No lift Shift) = throttle at 100%, throw clutch in and shift to next gear when nearing 6000rpms. fuel cut off does not occur. Instead spark cut off happens instead at redline. This mode keeps the boost built during a shift making the car accelerate faster even during shifting. You can do NLS in any mode (its advised not to have traction control on cause the car will bog..) All dont do it when your tires are spinning in place... car will freak out.

 

With comp mode the ESC strength is lowered. It will still have some stability control but it won't kick in as early. I figured that one out when taking turns on a light from a stop. Always bugged me when the car bogged down when in normal or traction control off mode.

 

click

 

Yeah I'm trying to get the hang of NLS 1st-2nd, getting there. RPMS go up so dang fast.

 

I had lots of trouble with it last year when I got my car in September, then this year I just decided to try and I could do it no problem. I'm completely stock though.

 

Thanks guys. When I searched I found a bunch of threads with the shifting strategies but nothing that ever really outlined what each mode did-or was supposed to do. This puts to bed some of the myths I had in my head. Myths that were becoming clearly myths in clouds of tire smoke as I tried to test different things out.

Jello

 

I'm totally stock as well, I dont think the K&N drop in filter counts as a mod but I'm really getting the hang of the 1-2 NLS cant wait to try it on the track.

 

Maybe I am an idiot, but my Comp Mode doesnt turn on.
I just hold the cruise power button right?

 

Hit your traction botton

 

That turns off TC. It doesnt display anything on my DIC saying ESC is off. Nothing about comp mode either.

 

Press it a second time and it should display competition mode

 

Yeah played with this today scared the **** out my girlfriend . Wasn't expecting it to whip out like that from a dead stop and I just shifted normal although the shifting was smoother than usual.

 

So I just purchased my 2009 cobalt ss/tc can anyone tell me why when my launch control is on its a 3 grand?

 

It shouldn't be. Could be running a trifecta tune as you can adjust it with their software.

 

If launch control is at 3000 rpms, its because your cars tuned probably. You can adjust the launch control rpm with Trifecta but Im not sure about HPtuners. I have my "launch control" set to 3200 rpms but I dont have to be specifically in competition mode to use it. My tuner just set the neutral rev limiter to 3200 rpms.

 

comp mode = activates lunch control, dials down esc.
esc off, = all the above except totally disables traction control system

 

I have trifecta tune and anytime i try to nls car missfires like crazy so i stoped trying as i felt like its gonna kill my car.

 

cant nls if the cars not warmed up. If it is warmed up, you may have an issue. I wouldnt nls if I were tuned tho.

 

You only have a narrow window to do it in. If you are somewhat slow it will bounce off the even limiter and backfire. I wouldn't trust a trifecta tune on nls, if I were you.

 

How do you adjust it down?