Latest news with #Vehicle
Edmunds
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edmunds
P0603: Internal Control Module Keep Alive Memory (KAM) Error
What does the P0603 error code mean? P0603 is a diagnostic trouble code that translates to "Internal Control Module Keep Alive Memory (KAM) Error." Specifically, it means the KAM — a part of the powertrain control module — has failed its self-test, which the powertrain control module runs periodically to make sure things are in good working order. Much like a computer's hard drive saves files even when the device is turned off, the KAM's job is to save or "keep alive" information that will be used the next time the vehicle is running. Why is this issue important? It's the KAM's job to save information about various systems, such as fuel delivery, timing and transmission control. This feedback is being constantly collected, allowing the powertrain control module to adaptively adjust to environmental factors, a person's driving style, and system wear as the vehicle is driven. If that data is no longer being stored or is inaccessible due to an issue with the KAM, the powertrain control module has to revert to default presets for these settings, which can vary widely from what has been learned, especially on older vehicles. Using those presets can result in rough idling, reduced fuel economy, or poor transmission performance, and it can cause unnecessary wear or damage if not fixed quickly. The code may be a symptom of an electrical issue, such as a failing battery, faulty wiring, or a malfunctioning powertrain control module. Can I safely drive my car with this error code? Until you know what's causing the P0603 error, it's best to drive the vehicle as little as possible. A KAM issue can cause erratic vehicle behavior, which may put you in an unsafe situation, and driving the vehicle using the original presets can lead to permanent issues if left unaddressed. The best course of action is to diagnose the issue with the vehicle as soon as possible before continuing to drive it regularly. Common symptoms of the P0603 error code The check engine light is illuminated. The engine idles roughly or hesitates when you press the accelerator pedal. Vehicle performance is sluggish, which may include slower-than-normal acceleration. You may notice increased fuel consumption. The engine is hard to start or won't start at all. The transmission may shift unexpectedly or fail to upshift or downshift when appropriate. The battery may drain, or there may be other electrical malfunctions. How is the P0603 error code diagnosed? Use an OBD-II scanner : Confirm the presence of the P0603 code and check for any related error codes before proceeding. It's possible that the P0603 error is being caused by another system problem. : Confirm the presence of the P0603 code and check for any related error codes before proceeding. It's possible that the P0603 error is being caused by another system problem. Inspect the battery and charging system : Inspect the battery for loose connections or corroded terminals and attend to them as necessary. Using a multimeter, check the battery's voltage — it should be above 12 volts when the vehicle is off or around 14 volts with the engine running. You can also check the alternator's output or take the vehicle to an auto parts store that offers free alternator testing. : Inspect the battery for loose connections or corroded terminals and attend to them as necessary. Using a multimeter, check the battery's voltage — it should be above 12 volts when the vehicle is off or around 14 volts with the engine running. You can also check the alternator's output or take the vehicle to an auto parts store that offers free alternator testing. Check the powertrain control module power supply : Inspect for loose connections, damaged wiring, or blown fuses on circuits that supply power to the powertrain control module. : Inspect for loose connections, damaged wiring, or blown fuses on circuits that supply power to the powertrain control module. Inspect powertrain control module ground connections : Make sure the powertrain control module is properly grounded by testing with a multimeter. Poor grounding can lead to all sorts of electrical issues and erratic behavior. : Make sure the powertrain control module is properly grounded by testing with a multimeter. Poor grounding can lead to all sorts of electrical issues and erratic behavior. Look for aftermarket modifications : If someone installed a performance tuning chip in the vehicle, it could be interfering with the powertrain control module's functioning. : If someone installed a performance tuning chip in the vehicle, it could be interfering with the powertrain control module's functioning. Test the powertrain control module: If no external issues are found, the powertrain control module itself may be faulty and require further testing, a reset or replacement. How is the P0603 error code repaired? Tighten the battery terminal connections and clean any corrosion from them. Replace a weak or failing battery to ensure consistent voltage to the powertrain control module. Repair or replace a faulty alternator if it is not supplying enough voltage to keep the battery charged. Repair or replace any damaged wiring, connectors, or fuses that supply power to the powertrain control module. Clean and secure the powertrain control module ground connections to ensure proper electrical function. Remove any aftermarket tuning devices or performance chips that may be interfering with the powertrain control module. If necessary, reprogram or replace the powertrain control module if it is found to be malfunctioning. After any repair attempt, use an OBD-II scanner to reset the error code and then conduct a test drive to verify the issue has been resolved. If the code does not return, the repair was successful. Related reading Follow the link below to reach our diagnostic check engine trouble codes catalog: On-board diagnostics (BD-II) trouble code directory
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Contact Trials Innovative Solution To Enhance EV Charging
Press Release – Contact Energy Contact is piloting an EV Demand Flex programme. This will use technology to determine when energy demand is low and then automatically charge customers EVs. If there is a sudden increase in electricity demand, the technology will stop charging the • Contact launches pilot using innovative technology to make it easy for Electric Vehicle (EV) owners to charge their car when electricity demand is at its lowest. • The pilot aims to ease pressure on the national electricity grid as EV use increases1. • The pilot also aims to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, supporting the decarbonisation of New Zealand. With the increasing number of EVs on New Zealand's roads, Contact Energy (Contact) is looking to ease pressure on the national electricity grid. This could also help EV drivers reduce the cost of charging their vehicles in the long-term. According to the Electric Vehicle Database's market stats, at the end of April 2025 more than 82,500 fully electric vehicles and 37,300 plug-in hybrids were in use in New Zealand. Charging an EV can increase a household's energy use by up to 30 percent says Powerswitch2. This can put a strain on the national electricity grid during periods of high energy demand, such as first thing in the morning or in the evening. To help reduce this, Contact is piloting an EV Demand Flex programme. This will use technology to determine when energy demand is low and then automatically charge customers' EVs. If there is a sudden increase in electricity demand, the technology will stop charging the vehicle until demand subsides. There are many benefits to this pilot, explains Contact's Acting Chief Retail Officer Michael Robertson. 'At scale, this technology would allow customers to charge their vehicles when demand is low, potentially helping them make savings on their power bill. It will also help ease pressure on the national grid, support New Zealand's energy supply, and reduce reliance on energy generated by fossil fuels,' says Michael. 'Pausing charging an EV, even for a short period of time, contributes to reducing high electricity demand, ensuring electricity goes where it is most needed. It's hard to predict on any given day when there will be an increase in energy demand and that's what makes the EV Demand Flex technology so innovative. 'Plus, our customers can rest easy knowing their EV will be charged to the level they want, ready for when they need it,' says Michael The pilot begins on Tuesday 3 June and may run up to a year. This will deliver valuable information about people's charging behaviours and enable Contact to finetune the EV Flex programme. If the pilot is successful, Contact will expand the programme. The EV Demand Flex pilot will run in addition to Contact's Hot Water Sorter programme, launched in April 2024. So far this has helped 14,000 Kiwi households to reduce their energy usage by turning their hot water cylinders off during peak hours. For the last four years Contact has also been offering 'Good' time of use electricity plans. These plans provide free power during times of low demand, such as at night or at the weekend, rewarding customers for taking pressure off the grid. More than 130,000 Contact customers are on one of the Good Plan range, and these customers have collectively benefited from 215 million hours of free power. Notes 1 Data from Electric Vehicle Database's April market stats shows more than 82,500 fully electric vehicles and 37,300 plug-in hybrids were in use in New Zealand. 2 An electric vehicle can typically increase household electricity use by around 20 to 30 percent according to data from Powerswitch, which can be found here:
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Contact Trials Innovative Solution To Enhance EV Charging
Press Release – Contact Energy Contact is piloting an EV Demand Flex programme. This will use technology to determine when energy demand is low and then automatically charge customers EVs. If there is a sudden increase in electricity demand, the technology will stop charging the • Contact launches pilot using innovative technology to make it easy for Electric Vehicle (EV) owners to charge their car when electricity demand is at its lowest. • The pilot aims to ease pressure on the national electricity grid as EV use increases1. • The pilot also aims to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, supporting the decarbonisation of New Zealand. With the increasing number of EVs on New Zealand's roads, Contact Energy (Contact) is looking to ease pressure on the national electricity grid. This could also help EV drivers reduce the cost of charging their vehicles in the long-term. According to the Electric Vehicle Database's market stats, at the end of April 2025 more than 82,500 fully electric vehicles and 37,300 plug-in hybrids were in use in New Zealand. Charging an EV can increase a household's energy use by up to 30 percent says Powerswitch2. This can put a strain on the national electricity grid during periods of high energy demand, such as first thing in the morning or in the evening. To help reduce this, Contact is piloting an EV Demand Flex programme. This will use technology to determine when energy demand is low and then automatically charge customers' EVs. If there is a sudden increase in electricity demand, the technology will stop charging the vehicle until demand subsides. There are many benefits to this pilot, explains Contact's Acting Chief Retail Officer Michael Robertson. 'At scale, this technology would allow customers to charge their vehicles when demand is low, potentially helping them make savings on their power bill. It will also help ease pressure on the national grid, support New Zealand's energy supply, and reduce reliance on energy generated by fossil fuels,' says Michael. 'Pausing charging an EV, even for a short period of time, contributes to reducing high electricity demand, ensuring electricity goes where it is most needed. It's hard to predict on any given day when there will be an increase in energy demand and that's what makes the EV Demand Flex technology so innovative. 'Plus, our customers can rest easy knowing their EV will be charged to the level they want, ready for when they need it,' says Michael The pilot begins on Tuesday 3 June and may run up to a year. This will deliver valuable information about people's charging behaviours and enable Contact to finetune the EV Flex programme. If the pilot is successful, Contact will expand the programme. The EV Demand Flex pilot will run in addition to Contact's Hot Water Sorter programme, launched in April 2024. So far this has helped 14,000 Kiwi households to reduce their energy usage by turning their hot water cylinders off during peak hours. For the last four years Contact has also been offering 'Good' time of use electricity plans. These plans provide free power during times of low demand, such as at night or at the weekend, rewarding customers for taking pressure off the grid. More than 130,000 Contact customers are on one of the Good Plan range, and these customers have collectively benefited from 215 million hours of free power. Notes 2 An electric vehicle can typically increase household electricity use by around 20 to 30 percent according to data from Powerswitch, which can be found here:
TimesLIVE
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
All the cars unveiled at Nampo 2025
Ford SA has used the annual Nampo agricultural trade show in Bothaville, Free State, to launch the new Ford Pro Convertor (FPC) programme for conversion services tailored to the commercial market. It's a new addition to the list of value propositions offered by the brand, which include services such as Express vehicle servicing. According to the company, the FPC replaces the previous Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM) initiative as a refreshed brand aligned to the global Ford Pro platform. Ford Pro selects and empowers local vehicle body converters to carry out modifications on selected Ford Ranger, Everest and Transit models. Whether it's an ambulance, drop-side bakkie or any bespoke requirement, including for mining, Ford SA has approved service providers that can carry out the work, including body armouring specialists such as SVI and Amormax. Ford says conversions and all possible modifications undergo approval and auditing processes to ensure high-quality standards and to preserve the original factory four-years/120,000km warranty on all non-modified components. Customers can order their preferred conversions with Ford dealers, which will direct them to the FPC.
Irish Examiner
11-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'A Minecraft Movie' helps push Irish cinema spending up 47% in April
Cinema spending jumped 47% last month compared to April 2024, largely driven by A Minecraft Movie and wet weather over the school break, the AIB Spend Trend said. The best day of the month for cinema spend was Saturday 5th April, which was the opening weekend for A Minecraft Movie. The data was compiled from 74 million card transactions carried out by AIB customers in store and online during April 2025. Overall spend increased 11% year on year, online spend rose 16% and in store spend climbed 6%. Spend in hotels increased 11% year on year, while restaurant spend also rose, up 10% year on year. It was also a strong month for car rental with spend up 10% year on year, and the number of transactions up 19%. However, the average transaction size fell from €115 to €106. Spend on Electric Vehicle (EV) charging was up significantly over the 12 months (+78%) as more people choose sustainable methods of transport to support the transition to a greener economy. Airline spend was down 8% over 12 months with the average online airline transaction at €247 in April.
