First one ever to not get AlfaOBD to work.

[ConorToot]

So, judging by everyone else's boasting about how easy and amazing AlfaOBD is, I should have known it would never work for me. It's been two weeks of me trying to get it to work and yes, I've contacted their tech support and they are out of ideas.
I have a 2012 1500 SLT 4.7L 2x4 crew cab and I simply wanted to know why the stability control light is on and add some LED lighting on the exterior. I have a nice 10.1" Android stereo I would like to add, but as of today when I got so pissed I threw a wrench at the hood and dented it, I'm very far from the stereo addition.
Here is what I have, what I've tried, what works and what fails:
I've tried 2 Android devices and 1Windows device and they all react the same.
I have 2 cables I bought and they do the same damn thing (OBDLink SX or sux, and an OBDLink EX)
I can turn on one headlight, wipers, and one item at a time. I can do almost every function on any of the controls that I've tried. After getting a base line download of the configuration I did a little fooling around to verify some terminology before I went to change any configurations.
What I can't seem to get working is when I go to the body computer and try to change any of the configuration changes like LED tail lights. I've done some I want to change and they didn't work, and I've tried some that were simple and should change readily, but they didn't work either. It gives me some error message that's so passive aggressive, I can't possibly remember the swarmy wording, something like "possibly maybe something or other may or may not have done something but most likely not, check your adapter and a wire or two ..." I've never read anything as vague before. Aleksy from AlfaOBD didn't know either. He said something was slow. Probably me as the slow one, but I happen to work, design, repair, install, and manage those who work on can-bus systems all day and have for over a decade. That's why I hurled my wrench at my hood and put a nice, big dimple in it today.
What do you think this could be? A new truck? Chevy or Toyota? Ford? Nissan?Anything... Bueler?

 

[crash68]

then just take a Uber...lol

 

[mtnrider]

If you really want assistance you are going to have to put your emotions aside and be more specific on the errors you are getting and exactly what function you were trying. Saying you got an error that said "something" doesn't mean anything to anyone.

Also be aware that the 2012 trucks are limited on what Alfa can do so it may be something that it is just not capable of performing.

We all know the program works so either you are doing something wrong or you have an issue with your truck. Maybe you can have one of your can bus experts look at it?
.

 

[Sur5er]

Use enough Dynamite there, Butch?

 

[Phirebeard]

You can use resistors on the LEDs and skip AlfaOBD.

 

[ConorToot]

Right now, I have LED headlights installed and I'm getting the B1630 and B162C errors. Until about ten minutes ago, I was getting a dash light for stability control. It inexplicably has turned off. This occasionally happens and then it comes back shortly after I start driving.
My emotions are put aside. On my way home from work, I viewed the dimple I added to the hood as an opportunity to learn how to fix dimples I put in hoods. It's a solid truck and more than anything, it runs and most everything works. I just put really amazing racing brakes on the front as the standard brakes with phenolic pistons tend to shatter in Houston where we typically deal with high water that drenches them and cools them too quickly. So, I like the truck, it's this little thing that I can't seem to get past when I just bought an Android stereo where I can have the OBD2 connected full time and make adjustments when needed, and more, monitor the more intricate items in real time. It was upsetting to have planned it out, which I've done this setup in a vehicle before wigmthout any issue. I have LED tail lights and would like to have all of the exterior lights changed to LED if I can get the truck's can-bus system to allow me to do this without adding resistors at every bulb.
I hope that is more of the line of information needed if you have any advice or tips.

 

[ConorToot]

For any of the body computer settings, and I have tried many, this is the response that I receive. I disconnect and shut the truck off for several minutes and it goes back to the previous setting. I have disconnected the battery for lengthy durations of time, held the horn, left the lights on, etc. to fully discharge the circuit. I have uninstalled and reinstalled AlfaOBD, tried two android devices and a Windows device on both an OBDLink Sx and OBDLink EX cable. The android devices use different OTG dongles so those have changed too. That leaves the truck and me as the common elements. One of us, the truck or me, as having the fault.

 

[Thomas Dodds]

I did LED in my cabin with no AlfaODB ... no issues (2015 3500) ... I went with the cheapest ones I could find on Amazon as a test (most of them are still working 18 mos later - including the dimming as they turn off) ... next time I'll get a whole interior pack and re-do them all.

I am also someone who if it works for everyone else - I'll have issues! I was never able to hook up my Alfa account to Google drive so I don't have the backup they describe ... I am very careful and I do one change at a time.

I use the OBDLink MX+ ... I researched until I was blue in the face ... it seemed that the others (from OBDLink) didn't work as well. I saw that Veepeak (search Amazon: Veepeak Mini Bluetooth OBD II Scanner for Android Only, Auto Check Engine Light Code Reader Car Diagnostic Scan Tool) is a 13$ one that some YouTubers are using on their rams - might be worth trying it with this instead of spending a lot more on the MX+.

Also, check out the AlfaOBD thread on this forum - the very top notes the years starting in 2013 - so you might have limitations on what you can do.

 

[Thomas Dodds]

"OBD Interface Issue" ... I'm wondering if you aren't getting a 2-way communication between your device and the BCM ... That tells me the SX/EX is not working for your RAM ... they might work for other vehicles. Save your money (at this point) and try the Veepeak instead of pursuing the MX+. I got the MX+ as I wanted the ability to AlfaOBD with a tablet and see my OBD readings with an iPhone (when I'm trailering).

 

[jawzs2]

Also, check out the AlfaOBD thread on this forum - the very top notes the years starting in 2013 - so you might have limitations on what you can do

Don't pay any atention to that 2013 model year, that was a misunderstanding when the thread was created. This software was written for European cars back in 2007 or so, way before the 2013's were on the drawing board. Someone figured out the Rams use the same computers as those cars and it works. I've used it on my old 2006 Charger R/T withut issues. The year has nothing to do with the issues, as stated before, just what options\functions are available.

AlfaOBD