Mastering the TurboLAMIK Program Selector Table: The Key to Unlocking Your Transmission's Potential

The TurboLAMIK TCU takes the ZF 8HP transmission to the next level by giving users and tuners complete control over shifting logic, drive modes, and special functions. At the heart of this flexibility is the Program Selector Table—your gateway to fully customized drive profiles for any scenario, from daily comfort to drifting, dyno tuning, or the racetrack.

What is the Program Selector Table?

The Program Selector Table is a configurable matrix of up to eight program modes (P1–P8), each with its own set of parameters. These modes (sometimes called “drive modes”) let you switch between radically different transmission behaviors at the press of a button or via your selector switch. For example, you can have a soft-shifting street mode, a hard-hitting drift mode, and a special dyno mode—all active and instantly available.

Important: The meaning and behavior of each program mode (P1–P8) is unique to your setup. While base maps start the same they are easy to and often changed. Not everyone’s P1 is comfort mode, and not everyone’s P7 is drift mode. Always confirm how your own modes are configured!

How Does It Work?

Each column (P1–P8) represents a complete drive profile. Down the left, you’ll find key parameters you can set for each program mode:

• Auto: Enables auto shifting and sets aggressiveness (0 = off/manual, 1–3 = progressively later/harder shifts).
• TimeUp: How fast and firm upshifts are (0 = softest, 2 = fastest/aggressive).
• TimeDown: Downshift aggressiveness (0 = smoothest, 2 = fastest/most aggressive).
• Start Gear: Which gear is used when you start moving (e.g. 1 for normal, 2 for high-diff or slippery conditions).
• End Gear: The lowest selectable gear in that mode (e.g. 2 to lock out 1st gear).
• Torque Reduction: Selects which torque reduction table is used during shifts.
• Lock: Torque converter lock-up behavior (0 = loosest/softest, 2 = tightest/aggressive).
• AWD: Chooses AWD control map (for AWD vehicles only).

By combining these settings, you can build the perfect drive modes for your needs—and switch between them instantly via your program mode switch, a drive mode button, or a custom input wired to the TCU.

In-Depth: Each Parameter Explained

Auto

Controls if automatic shifting is active and how aggressive the shift points are. 0 = manual only. 1, 2, 3 = progressively later and sportier shift points. Choose a lower value for comfort, a higher value for sport or track.

TimeUp

Determines how soft or firm upshifts are. 0 = the softest, slowest shift; 2 = the quickest and firmest. Perfect for tailoring each mode for comfort or all-out performance.

TimeDown

Controls downshift speed and feel, from buttery smooth (0) to ultra-aggressive (2).

Start Gear

Sets which gear the car will start in when you leave Park. Use 2 for smoother takeoff with short diffs or in snow/ice, 1 for maximum acceleration.

End Gear

Defines the lowest gear available in that program mode. Setting this to 2 is especially helpful for sequential shifter setups or high-diff builds where first gear is too short or aggressive. If the vehicle is stationary and you downshift below End Gear, the transmission goes to neutral; if moving, it will not select a gear below the End Gear setting.

Torque Reduction

Selects one of three torque reduction tables for that mode, letting you fine-tune engine torque cut or reduction during shifts. You might want maximum reduction for smoothness in comfort mode and minimal cut in track mode for the sharpest shifts.

Lock (Torque Converter Lockup)

Controls converter lock-up strategy. 0 = loosest/softest, great for smooth street driving; 2 = tightest/most aggressive, best for track or manual modes. Each level can be further refined in the detailed lockup maps elsewhere in the TCU.

AWD

Chooses which AWD control map to use for this mode (if your vehicle and TCU are equipped). Most users can leave this at default.

Tip: Program Modes Influence More Than You See Here

It's important to understand that these settings in the Program Selector Table are just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the TurboLAMIK calibration, the current program mode is referenced in a few other places. For example, under RPM Limits, there are tables that directly correlate to the selected program mode. This allows you to set unique minimum and maximum RPMs for each mode and each gear—crucial for configuring drift, dyno, valet, or race modes beyond what your engine ECU might permit.

With this, you can—for example—keep the car in gear during a long drift without unwanted downshifts, or set a specific rev limiter for dyno runs. It’s these advanced settings, tied to your program mode, that make the TurboLAMIK swap feel truly “OEM+” or race-ready.

Example Scenario: Specialized Modes With Features Outside Of The Program Selector Table.

Mode	Use Case	Auto	TimeUp	TimeDown	Start Gear	End Gear	Torque Red.	Lock	AWD
P7	Drift	0	2	2	2	2	0	0	0
P8	Dyno	0	1	1	2	2	2	2	0

P7 Drift Mode: Has rpm limits set outside of the program selector table so not RPM limitations force gear changes during drifting—full manual control, aggressive shifts, and never shifts unless told to. The example above has the fastest up and downshifts, but with a loose converter setting to reduce the impact the gear change has on the engine, this can be helpful for lower power cars and stopping the gear ratio change on an upshift pulling the engine out of its RPM powerband.
P8 Dyno Mode: On throttle has tight converter behaivour to minimise drivetrain loses to the dyno. It also has specific converter behaivour when lifting off the throttle, often used for dynos which are measuring deceleration drivetrain enitia for crank hp estimations, common practise in europe where BHP crank power is listed on dyno sheets, this mode is like putting your clutch in when hitting the rpm limiter with a manual transmission.

How to Use the Program Selector Table Effectively

1. Map out your modes: Decide what you want each P# to be—comfort, track, drift, dyno, etc.
2. Configure parameters for each mode: Adjust Auto, TimeUp, Start/End Gear, etc., to match your needs for each drive scenario.
3. Check advanced settings: Review other parts of the TurboLAMIK map—especially RPM limits, shift maps, and special functions—that reference your selected program mode.
4. Test on the road or dyno: Confirm that each mode works as expected. Make adjustments as needed and document your settings for future reference.
5. Share your map if needed: But always note: your P7 and P8 may not be the same as someone else’s. Double-check what’s set before hitting the road or track!

Final Thoughts

A well-configured Program Selector Table is the difference between a transmission that just works and one that truly feels tailored to your driving style, needs, and swap. Spend the time to explore each parameter, understand how program modes flow throughout the rest of your TurboLAMIK map, and don’t hesitate to dedicate specific modes for specific scenarios. Here we like to use P3-P6 with variations on shift aggression and rpm limits to so we can turn the transmission aggression up or down on the fly based on a road surface. If you find P6 is too aggressive and shocks the tyres loose on a shift you can quickly soften things up and find the limits of the current surface/tyre combination.

For further reference, check the TurboLAMIK Manual – Automatic Gear Change Tuning and related sections throughout the documentation.

Questions or want help tuning your setup? Contact our team—we’re happy to help you get the most out of your 8HP swap!