Scan tool question

OK, as the OP -- and after a year now of owning the 2021 Trailhawk -- and despite the vehicle still being under warranty -- I've just downloaded the PC version of AlfaOBD. Just because I want to know what's happening with my vehicles before taking them in for service.

Why the PC version? Because I've been used to the PC version of Ross-Tech VCDS for our VWs, which we still have. Sorry, I'm an old guy, and stuff like this on a smartphone is just too tough.

I've also ordered
-- an OBDLink EX FORScan OBD Adapter, and
-- a Z Automotive Security Gateway Bypass Module.

Note I decided not to get a 12 + 8 cable; at least not at this time.

As i get into this, I'll be asking you-all, who have experience with AlfaOBD, for help with the learning curve. (Or, anyone have any preliminary pointers?)

Meantime, I may decide in the future to get the Android smartphone version of AlfaOBD. I understand that would need a Bluetooth OBD scanner -- specifically OBDLink MX+. But that particular scanner costs about $180.

For our VWs, I've also had the Carista scan app for a long time, with a Carista Bluetooth OBD scanner:


I believe that the Carista app would work with non-proprietary scanners; you don't necessarily need the Carista one I have.

So does anyone know whether AlfaOBD would also work with my Carista scanner?

OK, so the OBDLink EX cable came today through Amazon. So I'm perusing the (AlfaOBD) documentation regarding that.

I'm confused about something already. It says that "No additional adapters are needed on [Jeep vehicles] when using OBDLink EX."

But then it says a "grey" adapter is required for the Jeep Renegade (and Fiat 500X), "for the access to the second high-speed CAN bus." And that it's available among others from Amazon. The "grey" adapter apparently looks like this, from the German electronic-fuchs.de:


So do I need the "grey" adapter or don't I?

Because if so I can't find anything like that on Amazon. Where is it available?

Ya, I fell for that "lie" as well. I have the OBDLink EX as well because it plainly says on the Alfa website what you just quoted below. That's completely false information. You do need the gray adapter if you want to perform the much-coveted proxy alignment. On my '17 Trail Hawk, during the proxy alignment it told me to connect the gray adapter halfway through the procedure. Rather then exit out of the procedure I just went ahead and completed it - after that my dash looked like Chevy Chase's house on Christmas Vacation - all lit up with all sorts of error messages.

It wasn't until I took delivery of the gray adapter was I able to complete the proxy alignment successfully.

I found mine on AliExpress - it's not on Amazon at all. It's on EBay as well, but they are only sold overseas (UK) and cost as much to ship the item as it does to purchase the item. The AliExpress "store" I purchased from had an option for "US Shipping" at the time, and it shipped from N.Y. so I got it in around a week.

Marek K said:

I'm confused about something already. It says that "No additional adapters are needed on [Jeep vehicles] when using OBDLink EX."
Where is it available?

Click to expand...

Usafle said:

You do need the gray adapter if you want to perform the much-coveted proxy alignment.

Click to expand...

OK... Being rather new to the Renegade, what's a "proxy alignment"? I suppose I could look it up, but I'm too lazy.

I'm mainly interested in detailed fault analysis, erasing codes, and maybe recoding.

So what the hell does this adapter do? Is it just connected in-line with the OBDLink EX? If so, I can't see what it would do circuit-wise...

But just in case, I'll order the "grey" adapter too. Thanks for the AliExpress link. I assume I need the -- literally -- gray one there?

Say you remove a CANBUS item on the vehicle like for instance the factory radio. The vehicle "talks" to the radio and realizes it is no longer there, so you then get the "flashing odometer" warning on your dash telling you the car is trying to talk to a component that it is supposed to have but, no longer does. I think you also need it if you try to change your tire size and get your speedometer to match correctly and a bunch of other stuff that I am not too familiar with. Someone else I'm sure could provide more info. The proxy alignment tells the car computer basically "don't worry about it everything is fine the item is no longer there". I'm not using technical jargon of course. lol

I think you can get away with everything you listed that you want to do without the need for that gray adapter. Again, I am not certain though.

Correct, the gray adapter sits between the OBDII plug and the Scan tool plug. Male into Female / female into male.

Yes, literally, the Gray colored adapter. The other colors are for accessing the UConnect system and other systems. Not sure which color for what though.

Marek K said:

OK... Being rather new to the Renegade, what's a "proxy alignment"? I suppose I could look it up, but I'm too lazy.

I'm mainly interested in detailed fault analysis, erasing codes, and maybe recoding.

So what the hell does this adapter do? Is it just connected in-line with the OBDLink EX? If so, I can't see what it would do circuit-wise...

But just in case, I'll order the "grey" adapter too. Thanks for the AliExpress link. I assume I need the -- literally -- gray one there?

Click to expand...

Usafle said:

I think you can get away with everything you listed that you want to do without the need for that gray adapter.

Click to expand...

Well, I I'm going to order it anyway, just in case.

Usafle said:

Correct, the gray adapter sits between the OBDII plug and the Scan tool plug.

Click to expand...

Which bring me back to the question, what the hell does it do? If it's just passing-through the wires... Or does it actually crossover or change the signals?

And how do you know when you're supposed to use it, and when the OBDLink EX cable is enough...? Or do you just use the "grey" adapter all the time...?

Usafle said:

Yes, literally, the Gray colored adapter. The other colors are for accessing the UConnect system and other systems. Not sure which color for what though.

Click to expand...

Interesting that the AliExpress page doesn't tell you which color is for what...

My next questions are going to be how and when to use the SGW Bypass Module...once that module gets here...

Man, this AlfaOBD stuff is a lot more complicated than VW's VCDS, at least as far as connections... And we're not even up to using the program itself...

I think the gray adapter has some pins "missing" that tells the OBDII plug that that particular adapter is now connected. The only time I've needed to use the gray adapter is for the Proxy Alignment. During that procedure it connects to some other computer system on the vehicle (I believe it's the brake system - someone can correct me if I am wrong). If I am NOT trying to complete a Proxy Alignment and I am just connecting to the Jeep's Body Computer, then I never need to connect the gray cable. It was only during the Proxy Alignment that I needed the gray cable.

I can't answer your SGW question since mine is a '17, and I don't need that at all since it's the "pre-security" Jeep.

My total from the Aliexpress link I sent you for that gray adapter was $13.55 shipped out the door. If you didn't select "US Shipping" that's probably why you got charged VAT. Now it will also take a little less than a month to get to you since it's coming from China instead of the week it took mine. I specifically ordered from that store I sent you because it had a US Shipping option - whereas the others did not. Go back and double check. Maybe it's not too late to cancel the order and order it correctly?

Well, I got an e-mail from AliExpress saying that my order "is awaiting payment completion." And when I try to pay again, it says the payment was refused.

There's an appeals process; but I need to send scanned images of my driver's license, the credit card itself, a credit card bill, and other documentation. Um, no, I don't think so.

Maye it was because it defaulted to being shipped from China. I saw a U.S. hipping option when i checked your link yesterday, but didn't see it when I was ordering today.

I think I'll cancel that order, and start again...

* edit * OK, I tried it again, this time shipping "from the United States." Delivery was supposed to be by 24 May, so about a month.

But the payment failed again.

OK, I give up on AliExpress.

I do see this "grey" adapter on eBay, but like you say from the UK for $15.33 plus $14.13 shipping.

Any other ideas where I can find this "grey" adapter?

Usafle said:

Ya, I fell for that "lie" as well. I have the OBDLink EX as well because it plainly says on the Alfa website what you just quoted below. That's completely false information. You do need the gray adapter if you want to perform the much-coveted proxy alignment...

Click to expand...

I agree that the AlfaOBD website is confusing, but it does clearly say in two separate places that the grey cable is required for the Renegade.