Go48

Would someone with specific technical knowledge on how the KAM works in the RX-8 PCM provide us with a short turorial? :D

For example, how long are driving "habits" scanned before changes are made to the PCM settings? Is the KAM periodically and automatically refreshed? Or does it not refresh at all once the PCM settings are made unless it is completely cleared? Maybe someone with more knowledge on this topic can educate us. That would be really great! TIA

Go48

^^^Bump?

draco067

what's KAM

Go48

Keep Alive Memory. An area of non-volatile memory in the Powertrain Control Module (aka, PCM, the on-board computer controlling operation of the car). Various data are stored in the KAM and remain there as long as battery power is available to the PCM. Among the things stored there, at least temporarily, are codes for any malfunction that the car experiences. These codes can be read by service personnel when troubleshooting a problem with the car. I'm particularly interested in details of the learning function of the PCM and the role of the KAM, but can find no such specific info anywhere.

If you want to know more than that about KAM, do a google search for "Keep Alive Memory". Here are a couple of definitions I ran across on the Internet:

1. Keep Alive Memory (KAM): A series of vehicle battery powered memory locations in the computer which allows it to store input failures identified during normal operation for use in later diagnostic routines. KAM even adopts some calibration parameters to compensate for changes in the vehicle system

2. Ordinary RAM fades away when the ignition is switched off, but there's another type called NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM, GM's name) or KAM (Keep Alive Memory, Ford's term) that survives as long as the computer is connected to the vehicle's battery.