Superchip causing PCM Alzheimer's?

Keith Browning · April 7, 2005

Silly me! One of my techs replaced a water pump a few weeks ago on a 2000 SD 7.3L. Customer called back a few days later saying it's stalling and cutting out. Another tech looks at it, no codes except a P0603 (KAM failure) which sometimes clears but always returns either immediately or after driving. Manual leads to PCM - take a look and low and behold, a "Superchips" performance module stuck in the back of the PCM.

Removed the chip and started all over again...now chasing a P0344 AND P0603, still stalling. Replaced CMP sensor and still stalling, replaced the CMP connector and 18 inches of wiring to eliminate the possibility that our water pump repair damaged anything.

Ordered a PCM. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif

Is it possible for these chips to cause damage? I have little experience with them. The story gets better but I'll wait until this thing is fixed. I am not so sure this loopy PCM is all thats wrong here but it seems that it is developing Alzheimer's! I also don't like the dirt and fuzz inside the PCM allowed in by the programing seal being open for the chip.

Jim Warman · April 8, 2005

IIRC, the PPT for P0603 is pretty straigthforward. Clear code - rerun QT - if it returns replace PCM. Word of caution - almost every chipped 7.3 I have seen with a P0603 has a chip and the code is generated by the chip clearing the KAM at every key on.

Power programs (software rather than hardware power adders) usually leave the same tattletale. Been a couple of times I have "accidentally" sold PCMs rendering some poor dupes programmer useless (these download the factory program and upload a replacement program.... Once the power program is uploaded, The programmer can no longer upload the power program to another truck without the process being reversed. (I hope that is a clear explanation....).

HTH

Keith Browning · April 10, 2005

Jim, I got duped on this one alright. I know all about the PP Tests on P0603 and that chips can cause this code as well. Apparently this truck was traded in and we then sold it without any knowledge of the chip being in the truck. As a matter of fact, the installer managed to get the mounting bracket/cover back on the PCM without modifying it. When I discovered the chip I was in the process of removing the PCM to get the part number off of it. Needless to say I am pissed because of the runaround this truck has caused and now the customer expects the truck returned to him running the same. This is one of those times you just have to do what you are told to do or...

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hitthefan.gif

snw blue by you · April 11, 2005

Guys, I don't have alot of experience w/ chips on the diesel [1] and that PCM had to be replaced, but I do have a great deal of experience w/ them on Mustangs, and yes they can create an alzhiemers type issue. What I find mostly is the boards were not prepped properly, nor was the PCM/user grounded when performing the install. It is amazing what static electricity can do!

As well, I find very few people disconnect the battery when removing/installing the PCM [voltage spike].

Lastly, where chips are concerned, contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all.

Unless I am performing MAJOR modifications to a car, I steer my customers away from chips, and then we are talking about 500.00 min for the chip and upwards of 1000.00 or more for custom profiling and dyno time.

Flash tuning is where it's at, but I still don't think it's needed for the majority of PSDs out there.

As was stated in a different post. If these power levels are not enough, you probably bought the wrong truck!

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Keith Browning · April 14, 2005

So the new PCM got rid of the P0603 problem allowing me to retrieve continuous codes from the system. This was good because the truck was still stalling. Long story short, it appears we installed a defective CMP sensor. Nooooooooooooo, those sensors are not a problem at all. Should I have used our CMP sensor tester Ford sent every dealer? I'll bet it passes the sensor! :rolleyes: When this truck got hot it would randomly stall or skip. There is no way that silly tester is going to pick that up and most of the failing CMP sensors I have come across were intermittent concerns. To me it's another dust collector and a example of Ford and their better ideas. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/puke.gif

G. Bedford · April 15, 2005

I would rather have had Ford send out the low profile MatCo ratchet they used to set the 6.0l head gasket times than this crummy CMP sensor tester.

Marc · January 21, 2006

I have had a 01 7.3 with this p0603 comming back after being cleared too. It had superchips software installed in it. It was in the shop for hard start/long crank and slow crank. Trying to daig. the drivability problems I got a p0605. So I reflashed the PCM like the PPT said and it took away the p0605 but the p0603 still comes back. I thought by reflashing the PCM, the superchip software would go away. I am not sure if it's still there but I am thinking that it is because of the KAM code keeps comming back. I don't too much about chips but everyone I have seen, it's just problems.