FCA Secure Gateway (SGW) Explained: AutoAuth, Costs, and Which Scan Tools Work
Why your scanner can read but not clear codes on a 2018+ Jeep or Ram, what AutoAuth costs, and how to get access.
If you’ve plugged an aftermarket scanner into a 2018+ Jeep, Ram, Dodge or Chrysler and found you can read codes but can’t clear them, run bidirectional tests, or do service functions, you’ve hit the Secure Gateway Module (SGW).
What the SGW is
FCA (now Stellantis) added the Secure Gateway starting with most 2018 model-year vehicles. It works as a firewall between the diagnostic connector (and radio) and the rest of the vehicle network (AutoAuth overview via ETI). Some 2017 models have it too, and Autel reported that nearly 100% of FCA’s 2020 vehicles have it installed (Autel).
Without authentication you can usually do read-only work: read codes and view live data. Anything that writes to the car is blocked: clearing codes, actuator tests, relearns, calibrations.
How to get past it legitimately
There are two common routes:
- AutoAuth. This is the authentication service FCA set up for independent tools. You register your shop (or yourself), then register your tool. The tool then logs in online before secured functions.
- A hardware SGW bypass cable. On many vehicles this connects to the gateway harness behind the dash. It’s widely used, but check what your shop’s policy is and what your tool’s maker recommends.
What AutoAuth costs
AutoAuth’s current pricing page lists AutoAuth Standard billed annually (AutoAuth pricing). Autel’s gateway page describes Standard as $50 a year per shop per vehicle brand, including up to 5 users and 5 tools, with a higher “Plus” tier for bigger shops (Autel security gateways). Check the live pricing page before you budget, because pricing has changed over the years.
Your tool has to support it too
AutoAuth only works if your scanner maker has integrated it, and usually only while the tool has an active software subscription and internet connection. Autel, for example, states that a valid software subscription and the latest Chrysler software are required (Autel). An out-of-subscription tool may lose secure gateway access even if it worked before.
Other brands have gateways too
Autel lists security gateways on Nissan/Infiniti (e.g. 2021+ Rogue), Mercedes-Benz, and VW/Audi. VW/Audi access works differently: through paid access tokens rather than AutoAuth (Autel).
Checklist before you buy a scanner for FCA work
- Does the maker list AutoAuth / SGW support for your exact model and year?
- Is that support tied to a subscription? What does renewal cost?
- Does the tool need Wi-Fi during the job?
- Budget the AutoAuth fee on top of the tool price.
Check a specific vehicle on our Ram 1500 secure gateway page or Grand Cherokee page. We only mark a tool “Supported” once it’s verified.