[premier0815]

I could at least try to explain:

AlfaOBD works with nearly any non-Apple device, such as a laptop, tablet or phone.

AlfaOBD connects to the car with either Bluetooth (not recommended for flashing odometer fix) or USB.

USB can connect to a laptop (not recommended, unless you always have it in the car) or to a tablet/phone IF it's OTG compatible.

So ideally you want an OTG-compatible non-Apple device that's always charged-up in the car, with the $49 AlfaOBD app, & a proper Yellow Adapter that's not just an extension cable that happens to be yellow .



Literally LMAO right now at how f'ing complicated this is, so let me know if it still doesn't make sense.

Thanks again! I think I understand it now.

OBD MX+ and OBDLink LX can be thought of as Bluetooth / wifi enabled OBD2 devices.

OBD SX cable isn’t just a “cable” but rather a “wired” OBD device which is meant to be connected to a windows laptop or an Android device that has the AlfaOBD app installed, and a person won’t need the OBD MX+ or OBDLink LX devices at all if using the OBD SX Cable this way.

A proper yellow Adaptor is also required in any applications described above to do a proxy alignment.

The yellow adaptor connects to the car’s OBD port and then needs to be attached to the OBD MX+ or OBDLink LX which can then be connected to a windows PC or Android device via Bluetooth or wifi.

If connecting the car to the yellow adaptor to the OBD SX “cable”(device), then the OBD SX “cable” is wired and plugged into to the laptop/android device via an OTG USB port.

The USB port needs to be an OTG (on the go) USB port because an OTG USB port allows the connected device to work as the host.

Otherwise the OBD SX “cable” (which is really just a wired version of OBDMX+) won’t be able to function.

 

[premier0815]

Thanks again! I think I understand it now.

OBD MX+ and OBDLink LX can be thought of as Bluetooth / wifi enabled OBD2 devices.

OBD SX cable isn’t just a “cable” but rather a “wired” OBD device which is meant to be connected to a windows laptop or an Android device that has the AlfaOBD app installed, and a person won’t need the OBD MX+ or OBDLink LX devices at all if using the OBD SX Cable this way.

A proper yellow Adaptor is also required in any applications described above to do a proxy alignment.

The yellow adaptor connects to the car’s OBD port and then needs to be attached to the OBD MX+ or OBDLink LX which can then be connected to a windows PC or Android device via Bluetooth or wifi.

If connecting the car to the yellow adaptor to the OBD SX “cable”(device), then the OBD SX “cable” is wired and plugged into to the laptop/android device via an OTG USB port.

The USB port needs to be an OTG (on the go) USB port because an OTG USB port allows the connected device to work as the host.

Otherwise the OBD SX “cable” (which is really just a wired version of OBDMX+) won’t be able to function.

@Electric Tire Shredder can I use AlfaOBD to turn off the Canbus for Tailights / DRL/ Signal Lights / Third Brake light so we can put in standard LED bulbs in our cars instead of using Canbus ready bulbs which sometimes can get glitchy. Is it possible that we can use AlfaOBD this way for led bulbs so that we don’t have to be using various setups including resistors and / or capacitors?

 

[ronanddana2020]

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:
View attachment 115570

Then it said a code scan-&-clear was required, during which I discovered ELEVEN faults!
View attachment 115571
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:
View attachment 115572 View attachment 115573
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.

ETS....I have the same issue, flashing odometer and phone wont connect, dealer wanted to replace the module for $1k. I have no android devices, only windows laptop and Apple phone. What is your suggestion on hardware to buy?

 

[premier0815]

ETS....I have the same issue, flashing odometer and phone wont connect, dealer wanted to replace the module for $1k. I have no android devices, only windows laptop and Apple phone. What is your suggestion on hardware to buy?

I had the same equipment as you (windows laptop and Apple phone. AlfaOBD only works with android or windows, so If I had to do it over again, Iwould use:
1. OBDSX cable
2. Windows Latop with AlfaOBD app installed
3. Yellow Connector.

The OBDSX cable plugs into the yellow connector, which plugs into the car. The other end of the OBDSX cable plugs into the full size USB port on the Windows laptop which would have AlfaOBD PC version installed.

proxy reset was really quick and very satisfying to fix the flashing odometer. Good luck!

@Electric Tire Shredder any thoughts?

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Here's an issue I have with that:

One of the car's drivers could be left stranded if they don't always carry the charged-up laptop with the paid AlfaOBD app in the car, in case they get the unpreventable contactor glitch that prevents starting and charging.

& if you decide later that you'd rather not risk it, or you get tired of lugging the laptop in & out of the car, you can't switch the paid app to an Android, because the AlfaOBD.com download page says "Android and PC versions are sold separately."

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Using a laptop because you only have iPhones & iPads only saves about $40, at best, right? That's IF you don't need to buy an inverter or 12V charger in order to keep the laptop charged up in the car.

All it avoids is the need for a $10 OTG adapter, after checking if a $30 Amazon Android phone is OTG compatible IF none of your friends has an old one laying around that they haven't recycled yet.

I have a several-years-old, free, locked, Boost Android that no longer has cell service. I connected it to my WiFi & downloaded AlfaOBD via WiFi, & it works fine. Notice no cell service at all, shown by the empty triangle at the top of the pic itself, as opposed to the full triangle signal on the screenshot:

I didn't check it for OTG compatibility, but I'm only trying to show that a cheap locked phone works.

 

[ronanddana2020]

Using a laptop because you only have iPhones & iPads only saves about $40, at best, right? That's IF you don't need to buy an inverter or 12V charger in order to keep the laptop charged up in the car.

All it avoids is the need for a $10 OTG adapter, after checking if a $30 Amazon Android phone is OTG compatible IF none of your friends has an old one laying around that they haven't recycled yet.

I have a several-years-old, free, locked, Boost Android that no longer has cell service. I connected it to my WiFi & downloaded AlfaOBD via WiFi, & it works fine. Notice no cell service at all, shown by the empty triangle at the top of the pic itself, as opposed to the full triangle signal on the screenshot:
View attachment 115622

I didn't check it for OTG compatibility, but I'm only trying to show that a cheap locked phone works.

So please clear up this question, once I do a proxy reset with a windows computer w/alfaOBD, why would I need to keep the laptop in the car? Isn't it a once and done procedure?

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Proxy alignment is "once and done" (until the next time you get a flashing odometer), however...:

One of the car's drivers could be left stranded if they don't always carry the charged-up laptop with the paid AlfaOBD app in the car, in case they get the unpreventable contactor glitch that prevents starting and charging.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

There are at least 2 known glitches that we haven't learned how to prevent, so they can happen at any time, including when you're away from home:

• Proxy Misalignment which can make the car eventually die while driving.
• Contactor Disable which makes the car instantly fail to start or charge.

For the misalignment there's a work-around to get you home to fix it there: Make sure to add more than enough charge (like til the car stops it at 100%) & keep track of your driving distances, to estimate how much is left.

For the contactors there's no work-around. You need to do one of the following:

• Tow it to where the paid app is available.
• Bring the paid app to the car.
• Keep the paid app in the car.

Let me know if I still didn't make it clear.

 

[Sphinx]

I need to get a yellow adaptor to fix an ABS/ESC/RBS system issue (or to track it down). I see some of the other kits include a bunch of other colors. Will I need any of those to fix issues on my 500e, such that it is worth buying all of them? Or should I just get the yellow one?

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Yellow is the only adapter that has any use at all with AlfaOBD & a 2013-19 500e.

You can see that for yourself by just selecting each module one by one like I did in order to make the post #5 list, but here's an even more complete list, including each control unit within each OBD "function" category:

OBD "Select Function"	Control Unit	Adapter
Battery Management	Battery Pack Control Module Var.1, 2 & 3	none
	Electric Vehicle Control Module Var.1 & 2	none
	On-Board Charging Module	none
Engine	Power Inverter Module	none
ABS	ABS Bosch 9 CAN	none
	Regenerative Brake Controller	none
Climate Control	Electric A/C Compressor	none
Electronic Shifter	Electronic Shift Module	none
Steering	Electric Steering Delphi EP EP4	none
Airbag	Airbag Continental EP EP3	Use YELLOW adapter
Hands Free	Blue&Me Lauberhorn EP >2011	Use YELLOW adapter
Body Computer	Body Computer Delphi/Marelli Delphi	Use YELLOW adapter
Climate Control (again)	Climate Control Marelli EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Instrument Panel	Instrument Panel Marelli/Siemens EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Parking	Parking Valeo EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Radio	Radio Navigator module EP	Use YELLOW adapter
	Uconnect module EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Tire Control	Tire pressure control TRW	Use YELLOW adapter

 

[notnalor]

...
One of the car's drivers could be left stranded if they don't always carry the charged-up laptop with the paid AlfaOBD app in the car, in case they get the unpreventable contactor glitch that prevents starting and charging.
...

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

The contactor glitch itself seems extremely rare, so you may consider it acceptable to bring the app to the car if it's ever needed. There are other glitches that can prevent starting &/or charging, but they only require the free app, which you can put on a $30 Android left charging from the glovebox USB.

Very nearly every preventable breakdown can be avoided with just the other 6 preparation items here:
Post-Purchase Preparation. 6/15/23 Update: No Wireless...

 

[honzikd]

I desperately needed the yellow adapter today (to check for any possible A/C errors) - no option to quickly buy it anywhere nearby, so I used some old KKL cable I found in the closet and made one myself. Just a very temporary solution, but works OK.

 

[ronanddana2020]

OK, got the demo alfaobd app on windows, have the latest update, have the yellow adapter and the OBDlink SX cable. When i connect the cables and launch the app, turn the key on, fill in the make and model, and select ANY function and highlight the listed ECU, the app just says "wait please" and nothing happens until it times out. I am willing to pay for the full version, but I cannot get it to send an authorization code. HELP PLEASE!

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

If you can't connect to the car with the free app, the paid version won't connect either. The yellow adapter is ONLY for the modules indicated as such in post #51 above. No other modules will connect, if the yellow adapter is plugged in.

You checked that the correct input is selected, right? Click to enlarge:

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Oops! I just re-read that you're using Windows, so here's the input selction for that version:

 

[WhiteLX]

Good to know the SX cable works. I've had one for years that I bought for another vehicle. I was able to load AlfaOBD on an old Amazon Fire table and use the KONNWEI KW902 bluetooth OBD II adapter. It works, but I get the buffer size message. I just ordered the yellow adapter and OTG micro USB adapter so I'll give it a try this weekend.

 

[Electric Tire Shredder]

Hitting "ok" at the Konnwei buffer limit seems to only prevent viewing extra log data that nobody has ever needed.

However, it's still good to prepare an OBDLink.com SX connection, since wireless isn't recommended for any "active diagnostics" under the "open hood" icon at the lower right of Android app.

Those functions are needed for the contactor glitch, flashing odometer*, brake fluid flush, or coolant fill every 10 years or if you need to fix the PIM or OBC or BPCM.

* Flashing miles fix requires the yellow adapter, which won't work with a Konnwei anyway, but I mistakenly got an expensive yellow-adapter-compatible Bluetooth dongle, & then learned I should have just got an SX cable .

 

[TWil9999]

Yellow is the only adapter that has any use at all with AlfaOBD & a 2013-19 500e.

You can see that for yourself by just selecting each module one by one like I did in order to make the post #5 list, but here's an even more complete list, including each control unit within each OBD "function" category:

OBD "Select Function"	Control Unit	Adapter
Battery Management	Battery Pack Control Module Var.1, 2 & 3	none
	Electric Vehicle Control Module Var.1 & 2	none
	On-Board Charging Module	none
Engine	Power Inverter Module	none
ABS	ABS Bosch 9 CAN	none
	Regenerative Brake Controller	none
Climate Control	Electric A/C Compressor	none
Electronic Shifter	Electronic Shift Module	none
Steering	Electric Steering Delphi EP EP4	none
Airbag	Airbag Continental EP EP3	Use YELLOW adapter
Hands Free	Blue&Me Lauberhorn EP >2011	Use YELLOW adapter
Body Computer	Body Computer Delphi/Marelli Delphi	Use YELLOW adapter
Climate Control (again)	Climate Control Marelli EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Instrument Panel	Instrument Panel Marelli/Siemens EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Parking	Parking Valeo EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Radio	Radio Navigator module EP	Use YELLOW adapter
	Uconnect module EP	Use YELLOW adapter
Tire Control	Tire pressure control TRW	Use YELLOW adapter

Wish I found this post earlier. I was trying to recalibrate ABS due to the grabby brakes issue and was using the yellow adapter. It kept trying, but then "failed" after so many tries.

However, on a hunch and from frustration, I thought my yellow adapter was faulty, pulled it out and attached only the OBD sx. Then connection was easy and I was able to complete the ABS regenerative brake calibration and the other.

Curious about Electric Steering. I saw your post E.T.S. about pulling the fuse for the steering. I'm considering doing this as my first car didn't have power steering. I like the road feel better. I've been driving lately with ESC off and what a difference in handling. When I was reading through a mechanics service manual for the Fiat 500, I saw what the ESC does and immediately started driving without.

So my question on the electric steering. I found that there is a recalibration of the steering recommended in the service manual after an alignment. Have you completed this recalibration? I find that my steering pulls slightly to the left and I think it is the electric steering control. I originally thought it was a bearing and had the front left bearing replaced. The driving is noticeably better with that fix, and as I was also getting a grinding sound from that wheel which is now gone. Got it aligned and again much better. But, pulls ever so slightly to the left. So my next task is to grease the steering link fittings. No, zerk fittings, so I have a zerk needle on order.

My next step after greasing, if that doesn't completely solve, is to look into calibration in the Steering module.

Thanks as always for all your posts~!