Code P0603, What Could be Wrong?

by Mike
(Rockford, IL. U.S.of A.)

My truck is showing Keep Alive Memory (KAM) error. Does this mean the computer needs replacing or can it be reprogramed? Need help. I need my truck. It is a 1996 F350 with the 7.3. It will turn over but not hit.



Steve Says,


Hi, Mike. Thanks for using my website. There are several things to try. the first thing I would do is have my electrical system tested. Have the batteries both load tested to be sure they are good. Check the battery terminal connections and the cables to be sure they are clean and free of corrosion and that the terminals are tight. Have the alternator checked to be sure that it is maintaining the batteries correctly. The reason you need to have the electrical system checked on your truck is because if the computer is not getting a steady battery voltage it can cause all kinds of problems and this is one of the problems that can happen. It is not common, but it does happen.


All of the things that I've mentioned are free or very cheap. This is why I suggest that you do that first. After that is done then you should have your computer checked to see if there is an aftermarket chip installed. You can usually check this yourself just by looking at the computer but sometimes it takes someone who knows what to look for. The reason you need to check for this is because sometimes these chips can cause this type of problem.


The next thing to check is all of the wiring and connections to the PCM. Sometimes they can get loose or corroded and that can cause an interruption in battery power to the trucks computer. I would disconnect the main connector to the PCM and inspect every pin to see if it loose or causing a bad connection. This is not likely to be the problem but it could be and it is free to check!


The PCM is probably what is causing this code. There are several ways to get this fixed if that is what is causing it. The first way is to contact a company that rebuilds PCM's. You can find these companies using Google or Ebay. You could also buy a used PCM. This is not as good as a rebuild because you might be getting a PCM that is on its way out. The last option is to buy a new one. This is obviously for the people that don't mind paying a lot of money for a new, dealer only part.


I hope this has helped with your OBD code and PCM problem.