Unfortunately, if the 12v battery is going bad in a 500e, the most common situation is to have absolutely no sign at all*, until the car "suddenly" fails completely**, which is why it's a really good idea to get your own alarm, such as a "BM2":

A 12v in a 500e can last over 5 years, or fail in as little as 23 months, presumably due to heat from the adjacent onboard charger, which is why it seems to help to add a piece of styrofoam:

The best easy way to estimate 12v health is resting voltage, preferably after parking for several hours without charging, such as overnight or at work. If you don't have a Bluetooth gauge like that BM2, try to leave the hood cracked open so you don't need to open a door or hatch (to pop the hood) which awakens the car, dropping the voltage, & if it's the left door, it also charges the 12V for half a minute, which can raise the voltage temporarily.


* Sometimes the locking beep will go soft, RIGHT before it dies (1 more start, & dead for the next one). Even more rare is an actual warning on the display, usually with it's first appearance as "final warning" . I've never seen any report of a 12v causing flashing odo.

** It only seems sudden. What actually happened is the battery had 300% of the needed capacity, & as it gradually wore out it went to 299%, 298%...101% & 100%, at which point it still works fine with no discernable difference. Then next time it hits 99% of the needed capacity & it "suddenly" fails.

 

As for #s 1-to-3 above, feel free to try 1 & 3 & report back, but besides something called a "proxy alignment" that I don't know how to do, #2 is the only one I've seen reportedly working. The key seems to be getting a brake light warning to show on the car's display, which I believe requires turning the car on & hitting the pedal. I think the light assembly has a plug, so you might just be able to unplug it without needing to remove the bulb.

 

Thanks bud .. #2 I thought was ridiculous. Will try this week..

 

You can buy a Portable Jump Starter and carry it in the boot. $50 to $100. A 100% charge on my jump starter has lasted 5 months so far. You just need to get it started, then drive to an Auto Parts store and get a replacement.

 

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Removed tail light, unplugged, turned key on, hit brakes, saw message, turned off key, replaced taillight - blinking still there. Have seen no other effects.

Just unplugged, but did not remove bulbs. And yeah, my driver tail light is considered 'left' like mentioned elsewhere.

 

Since driver side is the left, I guess you mean the display shows the wrong side, like mentioned elsewhere.

I've never heard of a blinking odometer due to a low or replaced 12V, but it seems pretty common with any aftermarket audio component, like the new amp you mentioned on the speaker thread.

The solution is apparently "proxy alignment".

Apparently AlfaOBD can do that, at least for 2013-15* (so your '14 is covered), but I couldn't locate it in the app so I asked the forum & @jmetteer had the answer, so I posted pics of the process in post #3 of this thread:

AlfaOBD Fixes Flashing Odometer w. OBDLink SX or MX+

EDIT: "How To" pic in post #9 below. Proxi Align is supposed to be in AlfaOBD somewhere, but there are so many menu selections I haven't been able to find it yet. If anyone knows, please let us know. Thank you!

www.fiat500owners.com

* Apparently as of late 2019, AlfaOBD wouldn't always align a 2016+ 500e

 

Just an update- odometer stopped blinking on its own accord. Did not scan or unhook battery. It just stopped blinking after 3 weeks or so.

 

I read once that some issues are cleared by 50 key cycles (minimum 2 minutes off) so maybe that's what did it.