This is a buying guide to help you purchase the right tools and software to read error codes and make adjustments to your Fiat car.
1) Buy an adapter.
I bought the one below and can confirm it works with all 3 of my Fiat cars. Vgate is a brand of manufacturer and i believe, that most if not all of their vLinker series of products will work with Fiat cars.
Thinking of buying a cheaper adapter? DON'T. Mostly they won't work, i bought 3 different ones before the one above and they didn't work. This forum is peppered with "this adapter didn't work" messages. There are a lot of clever electronics inside the vGate products that cost a lot of time and money to develop - you don't get complicated products for £14. Dont be fooled into thinking this is just a little box with a couple of wires in it.
2) Get some software to read data from the adapter.
2a) MultiECUscan is the only fully featured software you can source that will read error codes, data, and do really complicated stuff like is pictured below. The software is available either for a Windows laptop or for an Apple iPhone/tablet, it isn't available for Android phones. For Fiat cars built after 2018 some parts of the car aren't accessible without using a security gateway access cable. A free version of the software can be downloaded for testing before you buy the full version. MultiECUscan is for Fiat cars only, it won't do a single thing on a Ford car, Vauxhall car, or any other make.
2b) The CarScanner app is good for an Android phone, it read error codes for my Punto but not for my 500X. However it can record live data more easily than MultiECUscan and it is a lot of easier using a phone inside a car than a laptop. The CarScanner app will work on other car makes, to a greater or lesser extent.
2c) The EOBD Facile Android app read error codes on my Punto and 500X, but had less features. It will work with other car makes and models.
2d) AlfaOBD is also a good app for an Android phone and has lots of funtionality, however it only works with Fiat cars/Alfa Romeo and other Stellantis models.
1) Buy an adapter.
I bought the one below and can confirm it works with all 3 of my Fiat cars. Vgate is a brand of manufacturer and i believe, that most if not all of their vLinker series of products will work with Fiat cars.
Thinking of buying a cheaper adapter? DON'T. Mostly they won't work, i bought 3 different ones before the one above and they didn't work. This forum is peppered with "this adapter didn't work" messages. There are a lot of clever electronics inside the vGate products that cost a lot of time and money to develop - you don't get complicated products for £14. Dont be fooled into thinking this is just a little box with a couple of wires in it.
2) Get some software to read data from the adapter.
2a) MultiECUscan is the only fully featured software you can source that will read error codes, data, and do really complicated stuff like is pictured below. The software is available either for a Windows laptop or for an Apple iPhone/tablet, it isn't available for Android phones. For Fiat cars built after 2018 some parts of the car aren't accessible without using a security gateway access cable. A free version of the software can be downloaded for testing before you buy the full version. MultiECUscan is for Fiat cars only, it won't do a single thing on a Ford car, Vauxhall car, or any other make.
2b) The CarScanner app is good for an Android phone, it read error codes for my Punto but not for my 500X. However it can record live data more easily than MultiECUscan and it is a lot of easier using a phone inside a car than a laptop. The CarScanner app will work on other car makes, to a greater or lesser extent.
2c) The EOBD Facile Android app read error codes on my Punto and 500X, but had less features. It will work with other car makes and models.
2d) AlfaOBD is also a good app for an Android phone and has lots of funtionality, however it only works with Fiat cars/Alfa Romeo and other Stellantis models.
