[Electric Tire Shredder]

EDIT: I sure jinxed it this time! Just days after saying "Nearly nobody needs one", I needed one! (to prevent stalling).

• I got this one (click here) & it works. IF it's unavail. or the link is dead:
  • Try here or here or try the links in post 12 below (click here). or this Amazon search link (click here) or eBay, & scroll down for one like the pic below. Make sure it specifies wiring (click here) or at least looks identical to the pic. IF none of those work:
  • On Amazon, just below "Amazon" at the top left, click "All", then under "shop by dept" click the following in the left margin, in sequence:
    • See All
    • Automotive & Industrial
    • Automotive Tools & Equipment
    • Diagnostic, Test & Measurement Tools
    • Code Readers & Scan Tools

Then in the search field at the very top, delete "Code Readers & Scan Tools", type "yellow adapter", hit "enter" & proceed as in item 3 above.​

Or if you can do wire splicing there's DIY details in post 17/18 (click here)..


Original Post:
I'm curious why you think you need one. Nearly nobody ever does, so it's very rare for anyone to actually have one & you may not get a good answer. If not, the 3 in the links below are all:

• Under $12 & therefore quite cheap for you to try (& report back to us )
• Look like the exact same product
• Actually show a Fiat 500 (gas though). Click to enlarge:

​

• No bad reviews but no good ones either
• The 2 that are a few cents more actually specify the wiring, right in the description: "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."

~$11.57 Amazon Yellow Adapter

~$11.25 Amazon Yellow Adapter < EDIT: I got this one & it worked (click here)

~$10.99 Amazon Yellow Adapter

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Understood. With a dead radio & flashing odo & clock, it appears that a proxy align might help, which does require a functional yellow adapter.

Unfortunately those 3 were the only ones I found that don't seem to be just extension cables that happen to be yellow. If there was 1 with a review it would be better, but someone has to be first, & it's only $12.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

'17 e has been compromised ever since the 12v battery had to be replaced...purchased an OBDLink MX+ but was informed by OBDLink and others that the "Yellow adapter" is necessary to hook-up

Oh! You know the yellow adapter is only "necessary to hook-up" to 6 specific modules, right? So I assume you've checked & cleared any error codes in the modules that usually get false alarms after the 12V goes dead (Batt Mgmnt, & "Engine" for PIM)

No yellow adapter is needed for:
ABS
Engine
Electronic shifter
Steering
Battery management
Security gateway module.

It's only needed for:
Airbag
Hands-free
Body computer (for example "proxy align")
Climate control
Instrument panel
Parking
Radio
Tire control (for example TPMS).

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

You're welcome! I'm glad I happened to notice the misunderstanding.

It connects like this:

You only need to select "Fiat" & "500e" the very first time, but at that first time you have to pair it, & if it asks for a code it's 1234. There are a few more tips here from when I, too, was entirely new to OBD:

Diagnostic Tips for Free AlfaOBD "Demo"

4-year 500e owner, brand new to a $17 Konnwei KW902 scanner & free AlfaOBD app. So far I've only used them to check & monitor HV batt health, & they seem to work fine, but there are quite a few steps to get the app started each time. Car charging, or "on". Plug in scanner & hit power button...

www.fiat500owners.com

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

I just ordered the yellow adapter from the middle link of post #2 above, because it's now the cheapest, & my odometer recently started blinking. I also ordered an OBDLink MX+, since that's also required.

The adapter isn't due to arrive until 3/13 - 3/28, after which I'll post my results here.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

bought one that had several dozen positive reviews from a source in the UK.

Link please, &/or instructions to find it.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

I had only remembered seeing a report that OBDLink does not list them, & had not thought to check AlfaOBD.com .

The $15 unit in your first link didn't show when I searched eBay!

It might have been nicer to know about before I ordered the $10 Amazon one, but at least now I can test the cheapo version & report back for others.

From the pics it is not exactly the same unit, but that doesn't mean they're not the same on the inside.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

The yellow adapter from the middle link of post #2 just arrived & it worked with my OBDLink MX+ to get the odometer to stop flashing & the USB port to work again, by doing a proxy alignment.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

For DIY folks like @jakjak here's how to rewire a plain extension, copied from 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:

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Wiring diagram posted by @jakjak here:

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

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Ordering a yellow adapter in the US takes a while to deliver, & I couldn't remember if I originally checked the sources below, so I tried them all just now & couldn't find anything :

• AutoZone.com
• CarParts.com
• HarborFreight.com
• NAPAonline.com
• OReillyAuto.com
• RockAuto.com
• Vevor.com
• Walmart.com

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Going to get the PC version of AlfaOBD

If you happen to be away from home when you get the unpreventable contactor glitch that prevents starting and charging, the PC version will only get it going again if you have it in the car.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

It now appears that @premier0815 might have a gas 500, but it also has a lot of computer modules that might get a debilitating glitch while away from home, so I still recommend having the yellow adapter & $49 lifetime membership AlfaOBD in the car at all times, even if that means getting a $35 Amazon Android & leaving it charging in the car, such as from a glovebox USB.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Yes, a cheap Android phone or tablet works, even without Bluetooth (see below). WiFi is generally required to download the app to the device. You can download the free "demo" version 1st, then make sure it connects with the hardware below, then buy the $49 lifetime membership.

To do a "Proxy Alignment" to fix a flashing odometer & its associated issues requires the $49 AlfaOBD, a $13 "Yellow Adapter" (see post #2 on page 1 of this thread) plus either 1 of the following 2 options:

• $45 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.
• OR $81 OBDLink LX Bluetooth (or $126 MX+).

Prices incl. 10% off if you sign up to the free obdlink.com newsletter.

Click to enlarge:

Shown with MX+ Bluetooth but other options work, as above.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

I wonder if this is a better way for me to describe the 3 available options:

1st Option:
$49 AlfaOBD app on an OTG-compatible Android phone or tablet kept charged in the car
+$13 Yellow Adapter (post #2)
+$45 OBDLink SX cable
+$10 OTG adapter to fit the phone/tablet*.
=$117

OR 2nd Option:
$49 AlfaOBD app on a Windows laptop kept charged in the car
+$13 Yellow Adapter (post #2)
+$45 OBDLink SX cable.
=$107

OR 3rd Option:
$49 AlfaOBD app on any Android phone or tablet kept charged in the car
+$13 Yellow Adapter (post #2)
+$81 OBDLink LX (or $126 MX+)
=$143



* There are 2 types. Note the beveled ends of Micro that can only plug in one way up, & the rounded symmetrical C that can plug in either way up. Click to enlarge:

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

I have option 3 myself, but if I was doing it again, I'd use the less expensive option 1.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

I don't know if the $49 Alfa membership locks you into the one device it's loaded on.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Ignore any OBDLink Apps. Prior to you mentioning it right now, I literally didn't even know there was one!

If I were you I'd download the free AlfaOBD "demo" app first, then use it to pair with the MX+, & then make sure it still connects when you add the Yellow Adapter. I see no reason at all for it not to work, but you never know. Once it all checks out, then you can upgrade to the $49 Alfa app.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Keep in mind that my sound system is completely stock:

When my odometer started flashing, my Blue and Me was not functioning at all. It wouldn't even connect to my phone. Also my glovebox USB stick stopped playing tunes. I tried unplugging/replugging it to no avail. I didn't think to try un-pairing & re-pairing the phone though, which did work after the proxy alignment. It might have worked before that, now we'll never know .

I'd be surprised if a stealership didn't say I needed a new $1k+ part, even though it wouldn't have been true...

The AlfaOBD app shows right onscreen that a flashing odometer indicates proxy alignment is required. Click to enlarge:

Then it said a code scan-&-clear was required, during which I discovered ELEVEN faults!

I have no idea what caused them, but after clearing them I still had to repeat the alignment part I think 4 or 5 times in order for it to finish. 5 times makes sense, since it would be one alignment for each item on the list shown here, until they were finally all done & it showed it was finished:

The odometer stopped flashing & the USB stick played, but my phone still wouldn't pair, so THEN I thought to un-pair/re-pair & it worked.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

FastDave explained I shouldn't be using Bluetooth or wifi during this process...

That sounds like good advice.

In my case though, Bluetooth wouldn't work even if I tried! & I don't believe my car even has wifi.

Since you have the same Bluetooth OBD dongle as me, you'll of course be using Bluetooth for the proxy alignment, just like I did.

I do not recommend an Android head unit

That sounds like good advice too.

These highly-computerized cars are already a bit prone to a few quirks, even without messing with the electronics.