How to Change Automatic Shift Points with TurboLAMIK

The TurboLAMIK TCU gives you an unrivaled level of control over how your ZF 8HP transmission shifts—whether you’re daily driving, on the track, or doing dyno pulls. But to truly customize your shift points, you need to understand how the Program Selector Table, Selector Gear Swap Table, and the Automatic Gear Change Up/Down TPS tables all work together.

Overview: The Three Tables You Need to Know

1. Program Selector Table – Sets which auto shift mode (Auto 1, 2, or 3) is active for each drive mode (P1–P8).
2. Selector Gear Swap Table – For each auto mode and gear, tells the TCU which shift map number to use.
3. Automatic Gear Change Up TPS Percent and Automatic Gear Change Down TPS Percent – These are the actual upshift and downshift point maps, defining at what RPM (or speed) shifts happen for every gear, throttle position, and selected map.

How the Tables Interact: Visual Workflow

+--------------------------+
| Program Selector Table   |  (Set "Auto" per mode: 1/2/3)
+------------+-------------+
             |
             v
+----------------------------+
| Selector Gear Swap Table   |  (Auto 1/2/3 for each Gear)
+------------+---------------+
             |
      +------+------+
      |             |
      v             v
+-----------------------+   +------------------------+
| Auto Gear Change Up   |   | Auto Gear Change Down  |
| TPS Percent (Map #)   |   | TPS Percent (Map #)    |
| (Upshift Points)      |   | (Downshift Points)     |
+-----------------------+   +------------------------+

 

 

• Step 1: The Program Selector Table sets which Auto mode (1/2/3) is active for each drive mode (P1–P8).
• Step 2: The Selector Gear Swap Table tells the TCU, for each gear in each Auto mode, which map number to use for shift logic.
• Step 3: The actual upshift and downshift RPM (or speed) values are set in the corresponding Up and Down TPS Percent tables, for each map.

Step-by-Step: How to Change Your Automatic Shift Points

1. Choose Your Program Mode
   Decide which drive mode (P1–P8) you want to adjust—e.g., P2 for Sport.
2. Set the "Auto" Value
   In the Program Selector Table, set the "Auto" parameter for your chosen mode to 1, 2, or 3. This selects the Auto shift strategy to use.
3. Edit the Selector Gear Swap Table
   In the Selector Gear Swap Table, for your chosen Auto mode (row) and each gear (column), pick the map number you want to use (e.g., "4" for Gear 3 in Auto 2).
4. Adjust the Shift Points in the TPS Maps
   Open the Automatic Gear Change Up TPS Percent (for upshifts) and Automatic Gear Change Down TPS Percent (for downshifts) tables.
   • For each map number used in the Selector Gear Swap Table, adjust the RPM or speed for each gear and throttle position.
   • Higher values = later (more aggressive) shifts, lower values = earlier shifts.
5. Repeat as Needed
   Change other gears, modes, or maps as required to fine-tune your drive profiles.
6. Save and Flash
   Save your changes and upload the new map to your TurboLAMIK TCU.
7. Test Your Changes
   Take the car for a drive (or dyno run) and confirm the new shift points work as expected for your selected mode and throttle position.

⚠️ Critical Warning: Avoiding Shift Loops (Crossover Between Upshift and Downshift Points)

One of the most important things to check when modifying your shift points in TurboLAMIK is to make sure you never create a scenario where an upshift and a downshift can happen at the same RPM (or speed) and throttle.

If you set your Automatic Gear Change Up TPS Percent table (upshift) so that an upshift occurs at a lower RPM or throttle than your Automatic Gear Change Down TPS Percent table (downshift), you can accidentally create what’s known as a shift loop.

• Example Problem: If 2→3 upshift happens at 2800 RPM, but 3→2 downshift is also set at 2850 RPM for the same throttle position, the transmission will upshift at 2800, immediately trigger a downshift at 2850, then upshift again—over and over in a loop.

This can be dangerous and damaging to both your gearbox and driveline components. Continuous shift loops create extreme wear, heat, and even the risk of transmission failure.

Best Practices:

• Always check that your downshift points are set well below your upshift points for every gear, mode, and throttle position.
• After any changes to the upshift or downshift tables, thoroughly test drive the car and monitor shifting in all gears and at all throttle levels.
• If you notice any rapid or repeated shifting, immediately review your tables and correct any overlapping points before further driving.
• Leave a safe margin (typically at least several hundred RPM) between the upshift and downshift points for the same gear and throttle condition.

 

If in doubt, consult the TurboLAMIK Manual or seek professional tuning advice before making major changes to your shift logic!

Important Notes

• Selector Gear Swap Table Controls Both Upshifts and Downshifts:
  The map number chosen for each gear applies to both the upshift and downshift TPS tables. If you set Gear 4 in Auto 2 to Map 6, both upshifts and downshifts for that gear and mode will use Map 6 from their respective tables.
• You Have Per-Gear, Per-Mode, Per-Throttle Control:
  This layered structure gives you unmatched flexibility—each mode, gear, and throttle position can have a unique shift profile.
• Document Your Changes:
  Keep track of which Auto modes and maps you’re using for each drive mode, especially if sharing the car or tuning multiple modes.

Example Scenario: Customizing Sport Mode Upshifts

• Set P2 (Sport Mode) in the Program Selector Table to use Auto 2.
• In the Selector Gear Swap Table, set Gear 3 for Auto 2 to use Map 4.
• In the Automatic Gear Change Up TPS Percent table, find Map 4 for Gear 3 and set higher RPM for high throttle columns.
• In the Automatic Gear Change Down TPS Percent table, also adjust Map 4 for Gear 3 as desired for downshift RPMs.

Summary

To change automatic shift points in TurboLAMIK, always follow the flow: start in the Program Selector Table, link to the correct Auto mode, use the Selector Gear Swap Table to choose maps per gear, and finally edit those maps for upshift and downshift points at every throttle position.

Take advantage of this power to build the perfect shift strategy for street, drift, drag, or dyno—right at your fingertips.

Need more help or want a hands-on tuning guide? Check out the TurboLAMIK Manual – Auto Gear Change Tuning or contact our team for expert support!