Launch Control

[madbowler6]

hey guys, I've got another drag day coming up Sunday, wanted some input from you guys.

Per the owner's manual, it says to put the car's traction control system in SPORT mode (by doing a short click on the traction control button) for launch control.

Most or all of the reading I've done on this forum shows guys are turning the traction control system completely OFF (by doing a long press on the traction control button).

My question is: is OFF actually how you guys are running your launches? Or are you guys using SPORT mode per the instructions in the owner's manual? I would think OFF allows more potential wheel slippage, worse for drag racing. I am willing to try both methods on Sunday but I'm curious how guys are actually using launch control.

[chrishansin]

I have only used it off. I would be interested as to which does better. Hopefully you can share your findings.

[moonlights4]

I have done all my launches with TC in sport and it seems to work exactly as intended, and plenty fast!


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[HurrayFive]

I've done both, launched like a beast in either. With the RWD bias and at stock power I don't think either mode will make a difference, there's plenty of traction. I was actually surprised at just how hard this car launches stock, coming from a stage 2+ S3 that was a faster car up top, it didn't launch near as hard as the S4 does stock.

[chrishansin]

I don’t really know what is considered a hard launch. But as seen by this graph, my stock S4 is over 1.00 g on launch. Which in the seat of your pants feels amazing.

[madbowler6]

all good stuff guys, thank you!

[AWDYEAH]

Does anyone know approximately how long the car will stay engaged in "launch control"? I was playing with it this morning for the first time at a traffic light. It seems to me like it's a pretty short duration, maybe 5-6 seconds? I didn't get my launch off because I didn't realize it stayed engaged for a limited amount of time, then I couldn't get it reset before the light turned green.


Also on my S6, there was a limited amount of launched you could do before the ECU locked it out (like 200 or something) does anyone know if that holds true to the S4 as well?

Thanks for your input in advance!

[AWDYEAH]

I did some digging and think I answered my own question. It appears to be 5 seconds once it's engaged. That will make it tricky to get the timing right. I came from an Evo 9 that let you stay engaged till you took your foot off the clutch (or throttle if you decided not to launch).

[madbowler6]

yes, 5 seconds is the limit, then it will power down and you'll have to wait several minutes before it's able to go again.

the cars with the dual clutch S-tronic trannies can (I believe) stay in launch mode longer (not sure about indefinitely, never tried). with them, the car just doesn't engage the clutch til you let go of the brake, so it's not really hurting anything. with our 8-speed tiptronic boxes, the car is actually trying to pull against the brakes, so it heats the transmission up like a sonuvabitch. five seconds is all you get and then...womp womp. if it makes you feel better, this happened to me once at the drag strip bc the guys running the tree waited too long to start it. waste of a pass lol.

[wam22]

S4 does not have formal launch control, only the S tronic cars have a launch control mode you are reading about in the owners manual.

[Nez136]

Also on my S6, there was a limited amount of launched you could do before the ECU locked it out (like 200 or something) does anyone know if that holds true to the S4 as well?

Thanks for your input in advance!

This was true with my s3 as well. I haven’t heard anything about that with the s4. Perhaps it was only with the dual clutch trannies since they used a true launch control. Honestly it’s one of the only things I miss about the S3, it launched hard!

I don’t launch my s4 often (maybe 2-3 times in 12k miles). Personally, unless you are at the strip or feeling really serious about a stop light race then I wouldn’t just do it even here or there. Regardless of what the car can handle it does put stress and wear and tear on the driveline. I suppose since i actually bought this car instead of leasing I’m feeling a bit different about things



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[AWDYEAH]

yes, 5 seconds is the limit, then it will power down and you'll have to wait several minutes before it's able to go again.

the cars with the dual clutch S-tronic trannies can (I believe) stay in launch mode longer (not sure about indefinitely, never tried). with them, the car just doesn't engage the clutch til you let go of the brake, so it's not really hurting anything. with our 8-speed tiptronic boxes, the car is actually trying to pull against the brakes, so it heats the transmission up like a sonuvabitch. five seconds is all you get and then...womp womp. if it makes you feel better, this happened to me once at the drag strip bc the guys running the tree waited too long to start it. waste of a pass lol.

Lol glad I’m not alone.


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[AWDYEAH]

This was true with my s3 as well. I haven’t heard anything about that with the s4. Perhaps it was only with the dual clutch trannies since they used a true launch control. Honestly it’s one of the only things I miss about the S3, it launched hard!

I don’t launch my s4 often (maybe 2-3 times in 12k miles). Personally, unless you are at the strip or feeling really serious about a stop light race then I wouldn’t just do it even here or there. Regardless of what the car can handle it does put stress and wear and tear on the driveline. I suppose since i actually bought this car instead of leasing I’m feeling a bit different about things



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I have no reason to launch it, just wanted to try it out. I do go to the flashlight drags every once in a while so it’ll be nice to try it.


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[madbowler6]

I guess when people say "formal launch control" they're referring to a system that actually decouples the engine from the transmission while you're boosting, and if that's their standard, then yes, the S4 does not have "formal" launch control. I'm less concerned about the semantics. as long as there is a functional difference between the launch sequence vs taking your foot off the brake and then flooring the gas, I'm good. and there is a huge difference on the B9 S4. it limits the time you can hold launch mode, as well as the RPMs. it also only works in Sport mode. so it's very much designed to do this. it launches plenty hard. try it out, you'll see.

[Yabi]

I guess when people say "formal launch control" they're referring to a system that actually decouples the engine from the transmission while you're boosting, and if that's their standard, then yes, the S4 does not have "formal" launch control. I'm less concerned about the semantics. as long as there is a functional difference between the launch sequence vs taking your foot off the brake and then flooring the gas, I'm good. and there is a huge difference on the B9 S4. it limits the time you can hold launch mode, as well as the RPMs. it also only works in Sport mode. so it's very much designed to do this. it launches plenty hard. try it out, you'll see.

So is it 5-seconds from hitting the traction control button or hitting the accelerator to build boost?

[AWDYEAH]

So is it 5-seconds from hitting the traction control button or hitting the accelerator to build boost?

Hitting the accelerator while holding the brake. It’ll rev up and hold for 5 seconds.


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[Yabi]

Hitting the accelerator while holding the brake. It’ll rev up and hold for 5 seconds.


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Awesome, thanks for the clarification.

[madbowler6]

correct. but hold that brake FIRM. remember, the car is going to try to pull against the brakes, so try to push the brake through the floor. then do the same thing with the gas. build boost as high as it'll go and let go!

[Aaron@DTP]

I’m running 1.68 second 60’ times with it off.


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