How To Use AlfaOBD On 2025+

[Jimmy07]

Alright, here’s all the info on how to use alfaobd on these 2025+ 1500’s. For those of you who are familiar with using it on previous Rams, Jeeps, Dodges, etc, this is going to be very different, and at first seem a little overwhelming.

The modules (ECUs) in these 2025 trucks use a proxi configuration, which isn’t anything new (Jeep Cherokees, Promasters, Darts have used it for years). This means that pretty much any module you replace or add, or any change to the BCM configuration, you have to perform a proxi alignment afterwards. The proxi alignment basically tells all the modules what the vehicle configuration is by “aligning” them all. A telltale sign that a module is not aligned on the vehicle is a flashing odometer.

In a nutshell, there’s three steps to making any changes with alfaobd:
1- Unlock the security gateway
2- Make the changes with alfaobd
3- Perform the proxi alignment (alfaobd can’t do this)

Unfortunately, the dealership is going to be the most practical option for most people for getting the proxi alignment done. So, realistically, you should make an appointment with the dealership for that first, then install parts and make the alfaobd changes closer to your appointment date.


UNLOCKING THE SECURITY GATEWAY

Unlike the gateway on previous Rams and other vehicles, there is no way to physically bypass this gateway via wiring or bypass blocks. You have to unlock the gateway using a scan tool that is capable of FCA’s AutoAuth gateway unlock service. The scan tool doesn’t permanently unlock the gateway, it only unlocks it for the diagnostic session while the tool is connected to the vehicle. This means that to use alfaobd with the gateway unlocked, you need two devices plugged into the OBD port at the same time, so you’ll need an OBD splitter.

Things you’ll need to unlock the gateway:
1- OBD splitter- Amazon.com

2a- Set up an AutoAuth account- AutoAuth

2b- Buy an AutoAuth subscription ($50/yr). This is for a one year subscription to unlock the gateway on an unlimited amount of VINs an unlimited amount of times. You can register up to 5 scan tools to it.

3a- Xtool Anyscan A30M scan tool- Amazon.com

This is the cheapest tool that I’ve used that was able to keep the gateway unlocked while alfaobd is connected to the truck.
I can verify that Topdon Topscan can’t do it, and Launch X431 Elite can’t do it.
If you already own a scan tool that utilizes AutoAuth, I’ll leave a note at the end of this gateway unlock section on how to verify it is keeping the gateway unlocked while connected to alfaobd.

3b- Anyscan app for android or iPhone. This is the diagnostic app that interfaces with the Xtool.

3c- Register the Xtool serial number to your AutoAuth account so it’s ready to use for unlocking the gateway.

 

[Jimmy07]

UNLOCKING THE SECURITY GATEWAY (Continued)

Once you’ve got the AutoAuth account, subscription, Xtool registered to AutoAuth, and Anyscan app downloaded, you’re ready to unlock the gateway.

Plug the Xtool into one of the ports on the OBD splitter, then plug the splitter into the truck’s OBD port, then put the ignition in run.

Open the Anyscan app, and perform any updates, and download the vehicle drivers, which will take about 10 minutes. Once that’s done, you can click diagnostics, and follow the pictures below:









When you reach that last screen, don’t click OK. Just leave it, and move on to connecting alfaobd.

**NOTE- For trying other scan tools to keep the gateway unlocked:
Obviously, the goal is to use the cheapest tool to unlock the gateway, since that is it’s ONLY function in using alfaobd to make changes. If you already own a tool that is AutoAuth capable, here’s how to see if it is keeping the gateway unlocked while alfaobd is connected to the vehicle:

Go through that tool’s steps to connect to the vehicle and unlock the gateway, connect alfaobd to the vehicle, make a backup of the proxi configuration, then try to restore vehicle configuration using that proxi backup file (this will all make more sense once you read through the next section on using alfaobd). Once you choose the proxi backup file from the list, if it does not almost immediately say completed successfully, then the tool you are using locked the gateway back up once alfaobd was connected.

If you do have success with other tools, no matter how much they cost, please post what it is so we all know, and in case others already have the same tool.**

 

[Jimmy07]

USING ALFAOBD TO MAKE CONFIGURATION CHANGES

What is needed:
1- AlfaOBD app for Android, with license. You get this app from the google play store.

I don’t recommend the windows version of alfaobd because it has issues restoring proxi configuration backups, which also means it can’t write a custom configuration either.

**You CAN use the windows version to make simple changes that are in the car configuration change list, but BE WARNED- even if you make a backup file, you won’t be able to restore to it with the windows version if something goes wrong with settings changes.**

2- Bluetooth OBD interface compatible with alfaobd.
I can confirm OBDLink MX+, vlinker MC+, and vlinker FD will work. I don’t recommend cheaper ones, but if you have one already to try, and it works, post what ones you have success with.

**WARNING BEFORE YOU START MAKING ANY CHANGES**: You need to have a proxi alignment performed after making ANY changes to the settings, and alfaobd can not do this (more info on this in the proxi alignment section of this writeup). Once you make any change to the body computer configuration settings, when you start the truck, you will get a flashing odometer and pretty much every warning the instrument cluster can throw at you. The truck will still be drivable, but you won’t have ABS. This is all taken care of after a proxi alignment.***

At this point, you should already have the gateway unlocked with the other tool in the splitter in the OBD port. Plug the alfaobd Bluetooth interface into the other open OBD port on the splitter.

Connect the interface to your Android device’s Bluetooth.

Open alfaobd and select settings up top. Under data exchange, check the box for Do Not Verify ECU Model:


Next, connect the Bluetooth interface to alfaobd by selecting the Bluetooth symbol in the upper left, and choose the interface from the list.
Then choose your car as Jeep, model as Grand Cherokee WL, Body Computer, and MY2021+, then click connect. Then click the car with hood open in the lower right. This will bring you to the active diagnostics screen:



Get into the habit of making a Backup proxy configuration file every time before you make any changes, and then again right after your done making all your changes. Drop down the menu box, scroll down and choose Proxy Tools, then click backup proxy configuration. Once completed, it will show you the path to get to that file on your Android device:



Another function in Proxy Tools is Restore from backup file. If you get in a bind with losing track of settings you change, or screw something up, you can use this restore feature to choose your previously saved backup file as a restore point.

Now you’re ready to make changes. Drop down that menu box again in the active diagnostics screen, scroll down and choose car configuration change. This is the list of settings that can be changed in the body computer. I’ll use passive entry present as an example. Drop down the selection box, type in the search (or scroll down to) passive entry, and it’ll pop up the passive entry settings. Choose passive entry present, drop down the select value box and choose present. Click start, and it will show you what the current value of that setting is. Click next, and it will make the change and say procedure complete. You can click start again, and it should reflect what the new current value is:



If you have more settings to change, you can keep changing settings one right after another until you’re all done (no need to close alfaobd and let the truck sleep between each setting change). You’re going to want to make all the changes you need to before you do a proxi alignment.

 

[Jimmy07]

USING ALFAOBD TO MAKE CONFIGURATION CHANGES (continued)

Now the part where it gets a little complicated. Since we’re looking at a settings list for a Jeep Grand Cherokee, not all settings are present that pertain to a Ram (an example would be the 14” radio screen size). Also, there are no settings listed for which ECUs are present on the vehicle (an example would be adding the passenger screen, since it is an ECU that needs to be changed to present). In these cases, you’ll need to write a custom configuration.

What you are essentially doing is taking your backup file, and manually changing the raw hex related to the settings that need to be changed, then writing the edited backup file back to the body computer.

I’ll give an example of how to do this for adding passive entry.
There are three settings in car configuration change for passive entry that need to be changed, but there are also two additional settings that are not in that list that also need to be changed. They are called CAN node FDDHM (front driver door handle module) and CAN node FPDHM (front passenger door handle module). Since the passive door handles are ECUs, these settings allow them to be recognized on the canbus network.

So, here’s what you do to set those two missing settings to present:

Go into car configuration change and change Passive Entry Present to Present, Passive Entry Menu to Present, and Passive Entry Type to 4 Door.


Go to proxy tools and backup proxy configuration.


In proxy tools again, select write custom configuration, and start.


Select read from file, and choose the proxy backup file you just created. This will put that file into the edit box in a way that the rows are numbered so you can easily count the pairs of digits.




Select the 37th pair, which is 80, and change it to 88. Then click write custom configuration.


This will change CAN nodes FDDHM and FPDHM from absent to present.

***That is just an example for MY truck. This could be different for other trucks, depending on what other features they have. Generally, each digit in the backup file represents 4 settings (for the 80 in my original backup, the 8 represents 4 settings, and the 0 represents 4 settings). Changing that 80 to 88 represented 2 setting changes. If the OTHER 2 settings on someone else’s truck are different than what mine are, then your original 37th pair might not be 80, and if so, that second digit will be changed to something other than 8.

I have other software, and a bench BCM that I am able to see all these settings, and determine what settings make what raw hex values, so until we can establish some kind of pattern (ie, all big horns are set such and such way for the 37th pair), you guys are just going to have to send me your backup file that I can compare, and tell you what to change specifically.

Other instances that this will have to be done are going to be things like adding the passenger screen, swapping in the 14” screen, swapping in the premium LED headlights, and adding surround view.

 

[Jimmy07]

PERFORM THE PROXI ALIGNMENT

Now that you’ve confident that you correctly changed every setting that you want/need to, you have to run the proxi alignment.
Alfaobd isn’t capable of doing this, and the most practical way for most people to do this at the moment is to take it to the dealer, and have them do it.
So, before you do anything with installing parts/making changes with alfaobd, set up the appointment with the dealer to do the proxi alignment.
Just tell them you only need them to run the proxi alignment, and clear the DTC’s afterwards.
***THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO TELL THEM is that they are NOT to run the restore vehicle configuration under ANY circumstances.
If they do that, then all the alfaobd changes you made will be reverted back to factory settings.***

There are ways you can do it yourself, but it can get expensive, so it’s only practical if you know you’re going to be adding things and making changes a lot.
It requires setting up an aftermarket Witech 2.0 account (the diagnostic software that the dealerships use), purchasing subscriptions that last 3 and 30 days, and buying a VCI or j2534 pass thru device approved by Witech.
The VCI device that the dealerships use are the blue MDP (mopar diagnostic pod), and gray MDP+. The MicroPod II will not work on this Atlantis architecture that these 2025+ Rams use.
The MDP’s are $1850 brand new, and you have to be VERY CAREFUL with buying a used one (such as on eBay) because most of them I’ve come across were still registered to dealerships (lost/stolen?), and the seller has no way get it released from the dealership’s account. So, just make sure if you find a cheap one, you ask the seller if he is the one who has the authority to release it from the account it’s registered to.

The Topdon RLink X7 is a $200 j2534 pass thru that was capable of connecting to witech 2.0 up to about a month ago, when witech app had an update that broke the connection. Supposedly they’re working on a fix, so I’ll keep checking to see if that gets fixed.

In the meantime, here is a video on how to setup a witech 2.0 account, registering devices to it, and buying subscriptions:

Here’s a video on using an RLink with witech (for whenever it gets fixed):

 

[Jimmy07]

If you do end up getting set up to perform the proxi alignment yourself, these are the steps in witech:




















Close witech, disconnect the device from the OBD port, turn truck off, open then close door, and let the truck sleep for 15 minutes.

 

[Jimmy07]

After the truck has been sitting for 15 minutes, connect to witech again, and finish by clearing all the DTC’s:

 

[billybaloneey]

I am so glad I have a 2022 RAM 1500 (DT) that is AlfaOBD friendly.
Great write-up.

 

[Maverik259]

My gawd. And here I was just wanted the damn truck to stop honking at me when I get out to pick up my kid with the engine running.


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[Jimmy07]

My gawd. And here I was just wanted the damn truck to stop honking at me when I get out to pick up my kid with the engine running.


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That’s actually the first setting I changed as a test.

 

[oe542bob]

Let me say I always look forward to reading anything that Jimmy07 posts. It is always very informative and useful to me, well it is with my ‘22 using ALFA-OBD.
I got about 1/2 through this write up and my head started spinning—HaHa! I think my brain needs a “proxi alignment”!
I do have a ‘25 Jeep GC Summit that I could make some changes to, but I’ll just say this, it is just too much to do anymore. I’ll go back and have to read this info again and hope to finally get it to sink in so I can understand it. Kudos to you Jimmy07 for your persistence to find a way!

 

[Maverik259]

Ya it lost my interest and having to get the dealer involved haha. Well then there’s the custom values calculation on specific line numbers that may or may not pertain to your exact truck.

With that said massive kudos too OP for the knowledge and willingness to help others. Thats rare in these vehicle specific communities.


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[skyhawk42]

I have a question for those that have more knowledge of the new canbus than I do. I have no access to a newer truck to try things for myself, but I was wondering if it would be possible to take a can log of the gate way being unlocked and of a proxy alignment and replicate that signal using another device? I know it’s specific to trim levels, but once we have a database put together with multiple trucks it would seem doable to write a code into alfa or maybe an arduino so we can do all of this without a trip to the dealer? I’m sure it is more involved than what I’m saying here, but seems like there could still be a way