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Why can't I get Race Start to work?

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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 12:26 PM
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2020 AMG GLC 63s
Question Why can't I get Race Start to work?

I need a little help figuring out what I'm doing wrong trying a Race Start on my 2020 GLC 63s Coupe. I've searched the forums here, but can't figure out where I'm messing up.

I'm past the break-in (about 1200 miles now) and thought I'd do a race start. When everything is warmed up, I put the car in Race mode (also tried S+), on level ground, wheel straight, and then mash the brake/floor the gas. The vehicle gives me a "Race Start not available — check owner's manual" type of message. This happens every time. Since I get the message, I'm assuming I'm doing at least PART of the process correctly, but am missing something critical.

Any idea why I can't get race start to execute?

Thanks,
Kevin
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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:50 PM
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I think the only thing missing is to hit the traction control button - Photo of a car with S curve road behind it - so that is off or in Sport Mode. Once you do that, you should be able to have the foot firmly on the brake, then smash the gas, and get the red flashing race / launch start. Hope that does the trick!
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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by TANorCal63
I think the only thing missing is to hit the traction control button - Photo of a car with S curve road behind it - so that is off or in Sport Mode. Once you do that, you should be able to have the foot firmly on the brake, then smash the gas, and get the red flashing race / launch start. Hope that does the trick!
Hmmm. I tried that too — same message. Maybe it's an engine issue? Or, could it be that the break-in to do race start is greater than "normal" break-in?
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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 303GLC
Hmmm. I tried that too — same message. Maybe it's an engine issue? Or, could it be that the break-in to do race start is greater than "normal" break-in?
Shouldn't be anything more than the 1k miles as I was able to do it shortly after once I tried. Took me two or three goes before I got it right, now its just an addicting thing to do! If you're close to the dealership you could probably swing by and have the sales person who helped you make sure you have it down.
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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 04:01 PM
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Good idea. I'll give that a try. Thanks for your help!
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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by TANorCal63
I think the only thing missing is to hit the traction control button - Photo of a car with S curve road behind it - so that is off or in Sport Mode. Once you do that, you should be able to have the foot firmly on the brake, then smash the gas, and get the red flashing race / launch start. Hope that does the trick!
/\ Your foot has to be firmly on the brakes or it won't launch.
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Old Oct 21, 2020 | 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 18bora
/\ Your foot has to be firmly on the brakes or it won't launch.
I'm putting the brake pretty much to the floor, same with the throttle. No dice.
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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 05:48 PM
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check if your steering wheel is straight, I tried and if its not exactly straight it doesn't work
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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 05:55 PM
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Is Race Start just launch control for us guys with old, worn out 2019 models?
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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 08:21 PM
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Have you taken the advice from the message and read the Operator's Manual? This message comes up if one or more of the conditions aren't met for Race Start. The conditions that have to be met are listed in the owner's manual. It clearly detects that you are trying to do Race Start, so in all likelihood your brake and throttle pedal action is correct, but at least one other conditions isn't met.

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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 08:30 PM
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Race Mode is only available/selectable in 63S models, for 63 models we can launch if we fulfill all the pre-condition.
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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by superswiss
Have you taken the advice from the message and read the Operator's Manual? This message comes up if one or more of the conditions aren't met for Race Start. The conditions that have to be met are listed in the owner's manual. It clearly detects that you are trying to do Race Start, so in all likelihood your brake and throttle pedal action is correct, but at least one other conditions isn't met.

I have — still get the same message. The SA (a performance specialist at the AD) said there are actually about 50 items in the checklist the the computer reviews before a launch. Given that I can’t get to launch and I’m fulfilling all of the enumerated conditions, he recommended I bring it in to have them read the codes
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Old Nov 2, 2020 | 02:22 PM
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UPDATE... I took the vehicle to a different dealer to get an opinion from their performance specialist. He drove the car and was also baffled by the inability to do the race start. After some research, he told me that Mercedes has apparently changed the break-in procedure from 2019 to 2020. Now, it seems that you need 2000 miles on the rear differential in order to execute a Race Launch. So I just need to wait about 400 more miles. Thought this info might help anyone with similar trouble getting the car launched.
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Old Nov 2, 2020 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 303GLC
UPDATE... I took the vehicle to a different dealer to get an opinion from their performance specialist. He drove the car and was also baffled by the inability to do the race start. After some research, he told me that Mercedes has apparently changed the break-in procedure from 2019 to 2020. Now, it seems that you need 2000 miles on the rear differential in order to execute a Race Launch. So I just need to wait about 400 more miles. Thought this info might help anyone with similar trouble getting the car launched.
Evidently, there's been an update to the electronic locking differential with the various facelift and all-new models starting in 2019. The diff used to require an oil change at 2000 miles after the break-in, but this oil change is no longer required with the updated differential. My Feb '19 production 2019 C63S Coupe has the updated differential and I had AMG Germany confirm that it no longer requires the oil change. I didn't try Race Start until much later, though. There's been an ongoing debate over it since then, because there's mixed information and I ended up doing the oil change anyway. The owner's manual still says it's required, and early production models did seem to still require it. The change took place sometime in early 2019. The indicator of whether the car has the updated differential is apparently the absence of the supplemental break-in sticker in the windshield advising on the differential oil change. My car didn't have it. It only had the sticker about the engine break-in. It appears they changed the friction material of the clutch pack in the differential, so I guess instead of requiring an early oil change they now extended the break-in for the differential by delaying the availability of Race Start.
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Old Nov 2, 2020 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by superswiss
Evidently, there's been an update to the electronic locking differential with the various facelift and all-new models starting in 2019. The diff used to require an oil change at 2000 miles after the break-in, but this oil change is no longer required with the updated differential. My Feb '19 production 2019 C63S Coupe has the updated differential and I had AMG Germany confirm that it no longer requires the oil change. I didn't try Race Start until much later, though. There's been an ongoing debate over it since then, because there's mixed information and I ended up doing the oil change anyway. The owner's manual still says it's required, and early production models did seem to still require it. The change took place sometime in early 2019. The indicator of whether the car has the updated differential is apparently the absence of the supplemental break-in sticker in the windshield advising on the differential oil change. My car didn't have it. It only had the sticker about the engine break-in. It appears they changed the friction material of the clutch pack in the differential, so I guess instead of requiring an early oil change they now extended the break-in for the differential by delaying the availability of Race Start.
+1 on that. I was prepared to take my 2020 in for break-in service and after looking it up my SA told me that's no longer required on my car.
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Old Nov 2, 2020 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by superswiss
Evidently, there's been an update to the electronic locking differential with the various facelift and all-new models starting in 2019. The diff used to require an oil change at 2000 miles after the break-in, but this oil change is no longer required with the updated differential. My Feb '19 production 2019 C63S Coupe has the updated differential and I had AMG Germany confirm that it no longer requires the oil change. I didn't try Race Start until much later, though. There's been an ongoing debate over it since then, because there's mixed information and I ended up doing the oil change anyway. The owner's manual still says it's required, and early production models did seem to still require it. The change took place sometime in early 2019. The indicator of whether the car has the updated differential is apparently the absence of the supplemental break-in sticker in the windshield advising on the differential oil change. My car didn't have it. It only had the sticker about the engine break-in. It appears they changed the friction material of the clutch pack in the differential, so I guess instead of requiring an early oil change they now extended the break-in for the differential by delaying the availability of Race Start.
Interesting... Although this SA updated me on the new procedure, he still referred to scheduling an appointment to do that first service. He must not have known about that part. Nice to be able to save a few dollars!
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Old Nov 2, 2020 | 09:00 PM
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FWIW, I have an early 2020 63 and I still had the window sticker with the breakin and fluid change notification. Was only $125 and I got some small stuff taken car of. Good piece of mind if there is any doubt IMO. :-)
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Old Jan 12, 2021 | 05:23 PM
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UPDATE: So it wasn't a break-in issue or user error. After 2K miles, Race Launch still wouldn't activate. After sitting at the dealer for several days getting every possible diagnostic run, apparently some module, somewhere, needed updating. Once they found the right one and reflashed it, it's all good Race Launch activates as expected.,
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Old Jan 13, 2021 | 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 303GLC
UPDATE: So it wasn't a break-in issue or user error. After 2K miles, Race Launch still wouldn't activate. After sitting at the dealer for several days getting every possible diagnostic run, apparently some module, somewhere, needed updating. Once they found the right one and reflashed it, it's all good Race Launch activates as expected.,
So is your race launch working now? Can you let us know what was wrong?
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Old Jan 13, 2021 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by PartyVan
So is your race launch working now? Can you let us know what was wrong?
Yes, it's working (and lots of fun). I was told they went through EVERYTHING and found no issues with the engine components themselves. It was apparently a computer issue (they said they had to reflash multiple controllers) that they had to track down. It took about a week.
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Old Jan 19, 2021 | 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by 303GLC
Yes, it's working (and lots of fun). I was told they went through EVERYTHING and found no issues with the engine components themselves. It was apparently a computer issue (they said they had to reflash multiple controllers) that they had to track down. It took about a week.
Do you know what specific module/controllers they re-flashed??? I'm having the same issue with my 2018 GLC63.
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Old Jan 19, 2021 | 04:05 PM
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I don't, sorry.
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Old Jan 7, 2024 | 11:24 PM
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Potential cause of race start not working

Hello guys, I was searching another topic but came across this and hope I can help.
In order for the launch control to activate youll need to make sure both the engine temp and transmission temp is up.
Both Temps are displayed in the TPMS manu. When it's cold both temperature will be blue, once they turn white you're good to go. This should solve your problem.

The trans temp always need more time to warm up.
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