Try this:

- Set car_rate to 9600
- remove all lines under [GPSapp] except protocol=earthmate
- Add a line under [GPSapp] to point to your routes directory such as routedir=/programs0/routes and make sure that directory exists.

Then try deliberately swapping pins 2 and 3 on the serial connector to see if you get any luck that way. (I never trust 3rd party adapters )