Technical OBD confusion. Proxy alignment with Blue and Me

Currently reading:
Technical OBD confusion. Proxy alignment with Blue and Me

NeilFiat2

New member
Joined
Oct 3, 2017
Messages
11
Points
3
Location
Staffs
I have a 2010 Fiat 500 lounge with which I swapped the blue and me module as the old one was playing up. The new one works fine other than it has caused the odometer to start flashing!
I am told it needs a proxy alignment of the module to stop the flashing.
I have looked into getting an OBD module to do it myself but it is all very confusing...
Do I need ELM or the KKL VAG one, do I need leads to go with it? Am I supposed to remove chips to make them work properly? What software do I need for it and is it free or do I have to pay for it?
As you can see my searches just made it all very confusing...

I didn’t really want to go to the stealers and pay them too much for a 2 minute job.

Can someone clear up the confusion please.
__________________
 
I have a 2010 Fiat 500 lounge with which I swapped the blue and me module as the old one was playing up. The new one works fine other than it has caused the odometer to start flashing!
I am told it needs a proxy alignment of the module to stop the flashing.
I have looked into getting an OBD module to do it myself but it is all very confusing...
Do I need ELM or the KKL VAG one, do I need leads to go with it? Am I supposed to remove chips to make them work properly? What software do I need for it and is it free or do I have to pay for it?
As you can see my searches just made it all very confusing...

I didn’t really want to go to the stealers and pay them too much for a 2 minute job.

Can someone clear up the confusion please.
__________________

You'll need a licenced copy of multiecuscan (€50), an appropriate interface cable, and a windows laptop.

Someone may be along shortly with a link to a cable they've bought recently that's known to work with the 500. If you want a one-stop solution that's UK based, you can buy everything you need here for a shade under £100, but putting the pieces together from ebay and MES directly will likely be cheaper.

If you're planning on keeping the car and servicing it yourself & already have a suitable laptop, then I'd recommend buying the software & cables. Otherwise I'd be shopping aroung for someone who can do the proxi alignment for a reasonable price.

If you let us know your approximate location, there may be a member on here who will do it for beer tokens.
 
Last edited:
I have a 2010 Fiat 500 lounge with which I swapped the blue and me module as the old one was playing up. The new one works fine other than it has caused the odometer to start flashing!
I am told it needs a proxy alignment of the module to stop the flashing.
I have looked into getting an OBD module to do it myself but it is all very confusing...
Do I need ELM or the KKL VAG one, do I need leads to go with it? Am I supposed to remove chips to make them work properly? What software do I need for it and is it free or do I have to pay for it?
As you can see my searches just made it all very confusing...

I didn’t really want to go to the stealers and pay them too much for a 2 minute job.

Can someone clear up the confusion please.
__________________


Hi To do a proxy alignment you will need a registered copy of MES on a windows laptop, a USB ELM327 interface and a A3 (yellow) adaptor lead.
You can buy an interface and full set of lead adaptors for under £30. ebay item http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162678882016
is known to work and is only a pound or two more than separate lead and adaptor e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162684253905 and http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271275445368
No modifications needed with any of these, it's the sub £10 Chinese ones that give trouble.


Robert G8RPI.
 
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
So the leads and software is about £100. I also do not have a windows laptop as I am all ‘Mac’
If anyone is near Stafford, Staffs with the kit , that would be great as I do not see me ever using any purchased kit again as the Fiat 500 was bought for a relative who now wants a bigger car so will be up for sale very soon...
 
I looked at the below ELM 327 module, as it is supposed to work wirelessly with iPhones etc..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/172692782831

It is a uk based company.
Anyone tried one and is it up to a proxy alignment with the multiscan software? :confused:
 
Last edited:
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
I looked at the below ELM 327 module, as it is supposed to work wirelessly with iPhones etc..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/172692782831

It is a uk based company.
Anyone tried one and is it up to a proxy alignment with the multiscan software? :confused:

Hi,
you can't run multiecuscan on iOS I'm not aware of an iOS app that will do a proxi-alignment. You would still need the yellow lead.
I make the total cost of MES, interface and leads about £75 not £100. An old windows XP will run MES fine.
If you can get to Cambridge I can do it FOC for you.

Robert G8RPI.
 
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Thanks both for the replies.
I think £25 plus Vat isn’t bad ,as I can then sell the car.
Will look into that next week.
As I haven’t got a PC then the multiscan purchase isn’t an option.
 
If Fiat only charge £25+vat for a proxy alignment, then personally, I'd just let them do it. You could also ask them just to do a full diagnostic check on the vehicle, though that might be a little more expense. They'll automatically apply any software updates to the vehicle at the same time. If the car hasn't seen the rear end of a Fiat dealership for quite some time, it's likely they'll be software updates that the vehicle could benefit from.
 
Thanks both for the replies.
I think £25 plus Vat isn’t bad ,as I can then sell the car.
Will look into that next week.
As I haven’t got a PC then the multiscan purchase isn’t an option.

Check the price with the dealer before making the trip. The cost can vary from dealer to dealer
Robert G8RPI.
 
Will do thanks.
I’ll leave it for a day or 2incase some kind sole one this site with ‘the gear’ lives near me.

Anyone want to buy a Fiat 500 :D
 
Took it to a car electrical specialist and had the Proxy done for £30.
Car now sold.
I won’t be rushing back to Fiat electrics...(n)
 
Took it to a car electrical specialist and had the Proxy done for £30.
Car now sold.
I won’t be rushing back to Fiat electrics...(n)

Everything is now using CanBus to communicate between modules. For Fiats we have MultiECUscan, but for all other makes the coverage outside the dealer network is less plentiful, and potentially more expensive. And without the sort of help this forum provides.

You may now be a little unhappy with Fiat electrics, but for me, we have some of the best backup available.
 
You may now be a little unhappy with Fiat electrics, but for me, we have some of the best backup available.

Availability of MES and this forum are two excellent reasons for a DIY owner to choose Fiat (y).

A third good reason is that the popularity of the 500/Panda platforms means there is a ready supply of good quality aftermarket parts at reasonable prices.

Most of the known regularly occuring issues can either be fixed easily at modest cost (hatch wiring, door handles), or mitigated against (rusty sumps, rear beams); the biggest worries for me would probably be heater control failure on a climate-equipped model, or actuator failure on a dualogic - I'd personally avoid either of those options.

For those not practically inclined, different considerations apply and the shortcomings of the franchised dealer network, coupled with patchy Fiat knowledge within the general motor trade, make owning a Fiat out of warranty a less attractive proposition.
 
Last edited:
...
the biggest worries for me would probably be heater control failure on a climate-equipped model, .... - I'd personally avoid either of those options.

The Panda, being based on an Eleganza, has auto climate. I'm really looking forward to taking the dash apart if it gives trouble. Although frequent use helps everything keep working. (I hope):mad:
 
A neighbour had a Saab 9-3, basically the same car as my Croma. They had a electrical fault and there is no decent DIY software like MES available for the Saab. I tried MES but as expectd it would not connect. They ended up selling the car. It's not just Fiats that suffer from these problems, "premium" cars also suffer and they tend to have even more electronics.

Robert G8RPI
 
Back
Top