Check Engine Light after using launch control
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,361
Likes: 4,800
From: West Burbs of Chicago IL
Launch control isn't going to put you sideways. In LC the computers control power application to allow just a bit of wheel spin, but all the stabilitrak is still active. If the car starts to get sideways it's going to limit power, apply 1 or more brakes to keep you in line. Launch control not the same as turning off all the nannies and breaking the rear end loose.
That said, at 44F the summer tires on the Z51 are definitely giving up some traction if they're not good and hot from driving.
That said, at 44F the summer tires on the Z51 are definitely giving up some traction if they're not good and hot from driving.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 475
Likes: 317
From: Savannah, Georgia
Cmon Rafa get out and drive that car. You were one of the first to get your C8 and I figured by now you would have over 2000 miles on it. I’m over 1800 on mine but the bad news is the last few days I woke up to a couple inches of snow on my lawn. I think I only have a few more rides left before it goes to sleep for the Winter and the snowmobiles come out.
no 'garage queen' here LOL But this part where I live is condensed, a small part of town where everything is, people come to this part of town and so I don't have to go far to be in the middle of it. I park the C8, chill, feast on my Corvette popularity (get my "fix"), make new friends, and move on. I'm the only C8 in this part of town and I'm taking full advantage of it while it lasts. So much fun!While you change to snowmobiles rides, I'll be catching up with miles over winter, down here in Savannah the weather remains rather calm, with no snow. Work is not too far either, only about 4 miles and I'll be driving it almost daily soon.
Last edited by Rafa7; Nov 5, 2021 at 10:40 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 2,587
From: Del Boca Vista FL
No thread highjack, just a statement of positivity in this time of gloom and doom of DCT’s. As of yesterday my car is a year old (delivered to me) and has provided 10,400 miles of smiles with ZERO defects (so far). Manually shifted as well as time in auto mode. Road tripped across the states from FL to NV and back, driven off pavement on cut roads in CO and UT, interstate highways and country roads. Loving this thing (8th Corvette for me).
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,765
Likes: 10,200
From: Garden Valley CA
It doesn't directly state it. But Launch Control requires you to be Competitive Driving Mode or Track mode. And the manual states "These modes are for use at a closed course race track and are not intended for use on public roads." And you aren't supposed to do competitive events until 1500 miles. And, as mentioned, they have the words "or similar activities". The drivetrain doesn't know the difference between using Launch Control on a track or when the manual assumes you aren't using it on the street because you aren't supposed to use it on the street.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
Come on, that's the lawyers talking 100% and you know it. So as long as you own the car, you're never going to use the launch control unless you're at a track? What track would you go to that you would use the 0-60 timer that's built into the car? Certainly not a road course, they kind of frown on drivers stopping on track. So I guess that leaves a drag strip and you wait for a test and tune day. So they put a timer in the car for 2% of the owners? Yeah, OK.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
Come on, that's the lawyers talking 100% and you know it. So as long as you own the car, you're never going to use the launch control unless you're at a track? What track would you go to that you would use the 0-60 timer that's built into the car? Certainly not a road course, they kind of frown on drivers stopping on track. So I guess that leaves a drag strip and you wait for a test and tune day. So they put a timer in the car for 2% of the owners? Yeah, OK.
If you tell them you were drag racing and it set off a check engine light at 700 miles and trash the transmission, they have every right to deny your claim. Lawyers write these things for a reason.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
Is a launch control start a full throttle start? Answer: Yes
Did the car have over 500 miles when this full throttle start occurred? Answer: Yes
Does the manual state no full throttle starts below 500 miles? Answer: Yes
Does the manual exclude launch control full throttle starts after 500 miles? Answer: No
It's all moot since my car has 4,400 miles. If launch control shouldn't be done between 500 and 1,500 it should say so. They put forth the effort to tell you specifically no full throttle until 500, it would take NO EFFORT to then say and no launch control starts until 1,500.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,765
Likes: 10,200
From: Garden Valley CA
I would take my chances based on this:
Is a launch control start a full throttle start? Answer: Yes
Did the car have over 500 miles when this full throttle start occurred? Answer: Yes
Does the manual state no full throttle starts below 500 miles? Answer: Yes
Does the manual exclude launch control full throttle starts after 500 miles? Answer: No
It's all moot since my car has 4,400 miles. If launch control shouldn't be done between 500 and 1,500 it should say so. They put forth the effort to tell you specifically no full throttle until 500, it would take NO EFFORT to then say and no launch control starts until 1,500.
Is a launch control start a full throttle start? Answer: Yes
Did the car have over 500 miles when this full throttle start occurred? Answer: Yes
Does the manual state no full throttle starts below 500 miles? Answer: Yes
Does the manual exclude launch control full throttle starts after 500 miles? Answer: No
It's all moot since my car has 4,400 miles. If launch control shouldn't be done between 500 and 1,500 it should say so. They put forth the effort to tell you specifically no full throttle until 500, it would take NO EFFORT to then say and no launch control starts until 1,500.
Is Competitive Driving and Track mode already required by the manual to be only used on a closed course race track and not on public roads? Answer: Yes
Are track events already prohibited prior to 1500 miles per the manual? Answer: Yes
Is Competitive Driving or Track Mode required for Launch Control? Answer: Yes
But I do agree it wouldn't hurt to have some clarification from GM on this.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
Is a launch control start a full throttle start? Yes Is the odometer over 500 miles? Yes. Then it's OK because I'm an owner that read the break-in schedule, didn't see the instruction for launch control. IF IT MATTERED FOR BREAK-IN IT WOULD BE CALLED OUT, just like it was for under 500 miles in the BREAK-IN instructions.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
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Is a launch control start a full throttle start? Yes Is the odometer over 500 miles? Yes. Then it's OK because I'm an owner that read the break-in schedule, didn't see the instruction for launch control. IF IT MATTERED FOR BREAK-IN IT WOULD BE CALLED OUT, just like it was for under 500 miles in the BREAK-IN instructions.
“This feature is intended for use during closed course race events where consistent zero to
60 and quarter mile times are desirable.”
Seems pretty clearly called out to me.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
So tell me why it isn't called out in the break-in? Is there a law where it can't be listed twice? I would win in court.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
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From a technical writer's standpoint, he doesn't need to:
Is Competitive Driving and Track mode already required by the manual to be only used on a closed course race track and not on public roads? Answer: Yes
Are track events already prohibited prior to 1500 miles per the manual? Answer: Yes
Is Competitive Driving or Track Mode required for Launch Control? Answer: Yes
But I do agree it wouldn't hurt to have some clarification from GM on this.
Is Competitive Driving and Track mode already required by the manual to be only used on a closed course race track and not on public roads? Answer: Yes
Are track events already prohibited prior to 1500 miles per the manual? Answer: Yes
Is Competitive Driving or Track Mode required for Launch Control? Answer: Yes
But I do agree it wouldn't hurt to have some clarification from GM on this.
The wording in the manual is to protect GM's bottom line if you use it on the street and crash. Nothing more.
Is using Launch Mode a "track event"? Not unless you're on a track.
So why is it included on my base C8 which isn't supposed to be used on a track?
Last edited by Red Mist Rulz; Nov 6, 2021 at 05:23 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
So why does my non Z51 car have launch control? GM says I'm not shouldn't run a non Z51 car at a track, but my manual says I'm to use my launch control at a track that I'm not allowed to be at. WTF??? So if I hold the brake and rev the car to 2,000 rpm and do a full throttle start, but not use launch control, would that be OK?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
GM includes launch control, Competitive Mode and Track Mode in the base C8 which isn't warranted for track use. They'd have a pretty hard time making a case that you're only supposed to use it on a track, when they include it on a car you're not supposed to use on a track.
The wording in the manual is to protect GM's bottom line if you use it on the street and crash. Nothing more.
Is using Launch Mode a "track event"? Not unless you're on a track.
So why is it included on my base C8 which isn't supposed to be used on a track?
The wording in the manual is to protect GM's bottom line if you use it on the street and crash. Nothing more.
Is using Launch Mode a "track event"? Not unless you're on a track.
So why is it included on my base C8 which isn't supposed to be used on a track?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
So why does my non Z51 car have launch control? GM says I'm not shouldn't run a non Z51 car at a track, but my manual says I'm to use my launch control at a track that I'm not allowed to be at. WTF??? So if I hold the brake and rev the car to 2,000 rpm and do a full throttle start, but not use launch control, would that be OK?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
Wasn't this you that said this "If you tell them you were drag racing and it set off a check engine light at 700 miles and trash the transmission, they have every right to deny your claim." Seems you're running in circles at 10,000 rpm. Above you say I can go to a drag strip and earlier you say I will void my warranty.
Last edited by Phil1098; Nov 6, 2021 at 06:21 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
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That wouldn't fall under the "similar events" category? You really need to stop digging, the hole is getting pretty deep.
Wasn't this you that said this "If you tell them you were drag racing and it set off a check engine light at 700 miles and trash the transmission, they have every right to deny your claim." Seems you're running in circles at 10,000 rpm. Above you say I can go to a drag strip and earlier you say I will void my warranty.
Wasn't this you that said this "If you tell them you were drag racing and it set off a check engine light at 700 miles and trash the transmission, they have every right to deny your claim." Seems you're running in circles at 10,000 rpm. Above you say I can go to a drag strip and earlier you say I will void my warranty.
1) You can take your base to a drag strip
2) a drag strip is a “closed course competitive event”
3) Your manual says don’t participate in such events during the break in.
It’s all pretty straight forward.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
Would you listen to yourself, they say a base car shouldn't be tracked and then you say a drag strip is a “closed course competitive event”. By definition that's a RACE TRACK. Any lawyer would leave the customer for dead using your logic.