AVOID STALLING! (with ~$60 Full-Function OBD) 5/7/23 Update

1411 Views 20 Replies 3 Participants Last post by DaveM, 11 d ago

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago (Edited)

UPDATED 5/7/23:

There's an unavoidable glitch that makes the odometer flash & can make the % gauge jump around & leave you dead at the roadside.

The fix needs $49 lifetime-membership AlfaOBD* (click here) for "Proxy Alignment" (pic below). That requires a $13 "Yellow Adapter" (click here), & THAT requires the right kind of OBD connector

.

Evidence indicates that an $81** OBDLink LX works. (click here)

In posts 9 & 11 below, @jakjak shows a $50 OBDLink SX cable + ~$10 USB-A to USB-C adapter also works with a phone!

* You should have that anyway, since it's needed to start the car if you get the unavoidable contactor glitch.

Click to enlarge:

Font Screenshot Red Software Parallel

** $90 minus 10% for signing up for the free newsletter

See less See more

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #2 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Full AlfaOBD + Yellow Adapter + OBDLink LX Bluetooth is $143.

Full AlfaOBD + Yellow Adapter + OBDLink SX USB cable (click here) is $113 if you carry a charged-up laptop in the car, or add ~$10 for USB-A to USB-C adapter to fit your phone.

Only $99 if you don't buy the Yellow Adapter until after you get a flashing odometer, since that still lets the car drive & charge. You just can't always be certain of the charge level. But in order to just start the car after a contactor glitch you do need either:

Cable & Full AlfaOBD on a USB device, or
Dongle & Full AlfaOBD on a Bluetooth device

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #3 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Here's the evidence I found, showing LX compatibility, but it would be great if someone could confirm that it works:

Halfway down OBDLink's app-compatibility page (click here) it says: "AlfaOBD... Android Version Compatible with... OBDLink LX".

The AlfaOBD.com home page says "the interfaces sold by Electronic-Fuchs.de have been tested for compatibility with AlfaOBD.", & that page shows the OBDLink LX. Click to enlarge:

Product Output device Rectangle Font Screenshot

The AlfaOBD.com home page also specifically recommends the OBDLink LX (& these other, more expensive units):
- $99 Kiwi 3 (marked down from $160 & currently out of stock, click here)
- $127 OBDKey Bluetooth (OBDKey. OBD Bluetooth and OBD USB Products.)
- $140 OBDLink MX+ (10% off with free newsletter subscription, click here)

See less See more

Reactions: 2

jakjak

· #4 · 1 mo ago

So, I checked with OBDLink and asked about using the USB wired OBDLink SX cable (click here) (which I already had) AND an Android smartphone with AlfaOBD loaded. They didn't know, so I got an "on-th-go" (OTG) adapter (USB-A to USB-C) and tried it, going to the Settings page of AlfaOBD to connect to USB ... and it WORKED... good job OBDLink and AlfaOBD !!

Reactions: 2

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #5 · 1 mo ago

THANK YOU!

I don't suppose you have a yellow adapter to test it with.

IF it works with a yellow adapter, it's a $60 solution: $50 OBDLink SX, plus a ~$10 OTG USB-A to C adapter.

Reactions: 1

jakjak

· #6 · 1 mo ago

Ok... I ordered the Amazon one you tested ( you're A. P. S.?). I had tried to create one, but, while informative, the description is not definitive..
"4. Easy Use: Pins 6 and 14 on the diagnostic tool are connected to pins 1 and 9. Connect pin 7 on the diagnostic tool to pin 12 on the car, respectively."

Either all 4 pins #6 and #14(tool) and #1 and #9(car) are connected together (which is what it SAYS)... OR #6(tool) goes to #1(car) AND #14(tool) goes to #9(car) (which would be implied by "respectively" at the end ONLY IF this were only 1 sentence.. which it isn't)... AND I assumed (yeah, I know) that ALL other pins ALSO were connected normally (but this is not mentioned at all)

SO.. whichever I chose (I don't recall which) was either the wrong choice OR my OBD tools (2 Bluetooth, 1 wired) don't work with a Yellow Adapter. (Failed to connect to CAN bus)

When I get my (presumably) correct Yellow Adapter in a few weeks, I will try it out with the OBDLink SX cable.

Thanks for all your terrific work and information on these cool cars!!!

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #7 · 1 mo ago

Thanks also to all the amazingly helpful forum members!

They did most of the work that all I do is compile.

jakjak said:
I ordered the Amazon one you tested ( you're A. P. S.?).

If you're asking if I'm Absolutely, Positively Sure that it will make the required connection between AlfaOBD & the Body Module, the answer is yes, as shown here:

Font Screenshot Rectangle Parallel Technology

See less See more

jakjak

· #8 · 1 mo ago

Sigh, brain fog... I meant ALS, (April L Schempf) of the single review of the yellow adapter on Amazon, using a suspiciously familiar set of pictures in the review.🙂 I'll check back in when it arrives ~mid-May/June. And, no modesty needed!... compiling data from disparate sources into a verified, clear and readable post is a MAJOR help to all of us! (And, obviously, takes much more time and effort than just posting a story or opinion)

jakjak

· #9 · 1 mo ago

Sigh, brain fog... I meant ALS, (April L Schempf) of the single review of the yellow adapter on Amazon, using a suspiciously familiar set of pictures in the review.🙂

Annnnnd, speaking of brain fog... of course the SX cable works fine with the yellow adapter... and mine was wired correctly... I just was NOT trying to connect to the Body module or other module actually needing the adapter, sigh. I am also assuming that the wired connection is plenty fast enough to handle any communication speed.

So, I guess I'll pass along my duplicate when it arrives and get a subscription to AlfaOBD.

One last thing... when I plug the SX cable into my phone, my bimmercode and bimmerlink apps try to grab it, so I guess they'll work as well.

Reactions: 1

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #10 · 1 mo ago

jakjak said:
...the SX cable works fine with the yellow adapter...

That's great! Thanks for the report. I forgot to say kudos on thinking at the very outer edge of the box, if not completely outside of it.

It almost seems too good to be true, so it would be nice if you could attach a screenshot of AlfaOBD connected to the Body Computer.

jakjak

· #11 · 1 mo ago

7

Ok... here are some pics for your tutorials.

Font Rectangle Screenshot Parallel Software

Font Screenshot Rectangle Parallel Number

Rectangle Font Screenshot Software Parallel

Font Rectangle Screenshot Software Technology

Font Screenshot Rectangle Software Number

Font Rectangle Number Parallel Screenshot

Font Screenshot Number Parallel Document

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #12 · 1 mo ago

THANKS @jakjak !!

I considered starting a new thread but decided to just change the subject line price & add an edit to post #1.

I also edited it onto the pre-purchase & post-purchase preparation lists here:

500e Pre-Purchase Checklist, Updated 5/5/23

Post-Purchase Preparation. 5/5/23 Update: Cheaper OBD

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #13 · 1 mo ago

Also added to step 5 of the how-to-fix list here: HOW TO FIX A "DEAD" 500E that suddenly...

If anyone want to check my editing, it's in the first footnote of the pre-purchase list, & item 4 of the post-prep list.

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #14 · 28 d ago

Required Yellow Adapter:

jakjak said:
I had tried to create one, but, while informative, the description is not definitive..

I found a description that is definitive, at gendan.co.uk:

Pin 6 on the diagnostic tool end of the adaptor is electrically connected to pin 1 on the car end of the adaptor.
Pin 14 on the diagnostic tool end of the adaptor is electrically connected to pin 9 on the car end of the adaptor.
Pin 7 on the diagnostic tool end of the adaptor is electrically connected to pin 12 on the car end of the adaptor.

Click to enlarge:

Blue Font Material property Screenshot Web page

See less See more

jakjak

· #15 · 28 d ago

Well, here is the diagram from the multiecuscan.net/SupportedVehiclesList
Page that I used to make one and it seems to work. I left the unchanged connections intact but they may be unused in any case.

Rectangle Font Parallel Number Pattern

See less See more

Reactions: 1

DaveM

· #16 · 12 d ago

Hey E.T. Shredder, here's an additional data point for your awesome compilation of 500e tips and tricks. I resurrected one of my kid's old Android phones (a ZTE Z835) to keep in the glovebox and discovered that it does not have the ability to connect via the OBDLink SX cable. (I ordered it and an LX). The USB port on it does not support OTG or "On The Go" USB connections (that's the key phrase, I believe). It does connect to the LX via bluetooth, so I'll be keeping that and returning the SX cable.

Reactions: 1

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #17 · 12 d ago

THANK YOU!!!

But that phone has "Micro-USB", right?

Only USB-C works. Click to enlarge & note the angled ends on Micro-USB:

See less See more

DaveM

· #18 · 12 d ago

Yes, correct. It's micro USB.

It's not clear to me that the connection type (USB-C vs Micro-USB) matters since both support OTG connections in theory (What is an OTG cable and what is it used for?). I know that my phone explicitly does not support OTG connections. I assumed that that is the critical spec, not the connector type, but obviously I couldn't test it!

Reactions: 1

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #19 · 12 d ago

Thanks again!

This is getting a bit complicated, to save only ~$20 on a cable vs Bluetooth, or ~$30, if you already have an OTG adapter.

I'm tempted to just delete my USB suggestion, or add this: ...after checking that your device is compatible, using the free "USB OTG Checker" app.

Electric Tire Shredder

Discussion Starter · #20 · 11 d ago

That wasn't too hard.

Thanks again @DaveM for noting my error, so I could correct it, & I'm very sorry for your inconvenience.

I've now changed the instructions to:

"...if you ever get an unavoidable flashing odometer glitch. The 2 cheapest options for that are a $13 "Yellow Adapter" plus either 1 of the following 2 options:

$50 OBDLink SX USB cable (click here) if you carry a charged-up laptop in the car, or add ~$10 for Amazon USB OTG adapter to fit your phone or tablet, after checking it's compatible, with the free "USB OTG Checker" app.
$81 OBDLink LX Bluetooth (or $126 MX+). Prices incl. 10% off if you sign up to the obdlink.com free newsletter."

1 - 20 of 21 Posts