Carista OBD2 - A cheaper alternative to (some of) VCDS

[JackHill]

Hi Chaps,

Just wanted to quickly mention this app I've been using for a bit.

Carista is a diagnostics and customisation app that runs on android. An iPhone version is currently in beta. It works with any old cheap ELM327 bluetooth adapter that you can pick up on ebay (I paid about £7 for mine delivered).

That's nice, but why would I want it? Two reasons:

1. The diagnostic information it produces goes beyond standard OBD2 errors. It shows faults like you see in VCDS. Once it registers a fault it links you to the Ross Tech (VCDS) wiki page for that fault code (e.g. http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00849 )

2. You can perform some of the customisations you would usually need VCDS for. Below is a list of possible customisations for my car (MY10 Superb estate). Some interesting ones are there - changing country to Australia to get big MPH display, using Fogs for coming/leaving home lights, changing the number of flashes the signal lights make when changing lane. I can confirm these all work as they should.

So, how much does this cost? The app is free. It'll do OBD scanning from the off. However, if you want any

of the advanced fault diagnostics or customisations you have buy the pro package within the app - about £15.

Bottom line - for not much more than £20 (bluetooth adapter and pro package) you can have some of the functionality of VCDS. It's nowhere near as comprehensive as VCDS, but then it doesn't cost anywhere near as much.

I've found it really useful, so I just thought I'd pass it on :-)

The following settings were available specifically to your vehicle using Carista:

Doors / Windows / Remote:

Auto-lock doors when moving

YES / *NO*

Auto-unlock doors when key is taken out of ignition

YES / *NO*

Auto-lock trunk when moving

*YES* / NO

Unlock trunk when doors are unlocked

*YES* / NO

Blink turn signals when locking/unlocking with remote

*YES* / NO

Allow configuring beep when locking/unlocking

*YES* / NO

Beep when locking with remote

*YES* / NO

Beep when unlocking with remote

*YES* / NO

Unlock doors via remote

*DRIVER'S DOOR ON 1ST PRESS, ALL ON 2ND* / ALL DOORS ON 1ST PRESS

Enable settings for opening/closing windows and sunroof

*YES* / NO

Open/close windows and sunroof via long-press on remote

*YES* / NO

Open only driver's window via long-press on remote

YES / *NO*

Open sunroof via long-press on remote

YES / *NO*

Close sunroof via long-press on remote

YES / *NO*

Sunroof action when opening via remote

*SLIDE* / TILT

Open/close windows and sunroof by holding key in door lock

*YES* / NO

Blink turn signals when done closing windows via remote

YES / *NO*

Enable remote control buttons when ignition is on

YES / *NO*

Instruments / Display / Dings:

Instrument cluster region (affects ext. lights too)

GERMANY / EUROPE/OTHER / USA / CANADA / *GREAT BRITAIN* / JAPAN / SAUDI ARABIA / AUSTRALIA

Display warning about using navigation when moving

YES / *NO*

Display warning about using nav voice control when moving

YES / *NO*

Gauge needle sweep at startup (req. instrument cluster support)

*YES* / NO / NOT AVAILABLE

Seat belt warning

*ENABLED* / DISABLED

Lane-change turn signal auto-flasher

*ENABLED* / DISABLED

Lane-change turn signal auto-flasher count

1 FLASH / 2 FLASHES / *3 FLASHES* / 4 FLASHES / 5 FLASHES

Rear parking sensor beep volume

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / *5* / 6 / 7 / 8 / MAX

Rear parking sensor beep tone

TYPE 1 / TYPE 2 / TYPE 3 / TYPE 4 / TYPE 5 / TYPE 6 / *TYPE 7* / TYPE 8 / TYPE 9

Lights:

Allow configuring daytime running lights via dash display

*YES* / NO

Use designated DRL bulbs as daytime running lights

*YES* / NO

Use low beams as daytime running lights

YES / *NO*

Use fog lights as daytime running lights

YES / *NO*

Turn off daytime running lights ("wink") when turn signal is on

YES / *NO*

Turn off daytime running lights when parking brake is on

YES / *NO*

Coming-home lights

*ENABLED* / DISABLED

Leaving-home lights (req. auto headlights)

*ENABLED* / DISABLED

Coming-home lights mode

MANUAL: FLASH HIGH BEAMS TO ACTIVATE / *AUTOMATIC: WHEN IT'S DARK (REQ. AUTO HEADLIGHTS)*

Coming/leaving-home lights use…

*LOW BEAMS* / FOG LIGHTS

Coming-home lights duration

5 SECONDS / *10 SECONDS* / 15 SECONDS / 20 SECONDS / 30 SECONDS / 40 SECONDS / 50 SECONDS / 60 SECONDS

Leaving-home lights duration

5 SECONDS / *10 SECONDS* / 15 SECONDS / 20 SECONDS / 30 SECONDS / 40 SECONDS / 50 SECONDS / 60 SECONDS

Turn off all lights when headlights are left on and ignition is switched off

*YES* / NO

Turn off front fog lights when high beams are on

YES / *NO*

Turn off rear fog lights when high beams are on

YES / *NO*

Lower headlights for traveling to RHD/LHD country

YES / *NO*

Flash brake lights in emergency stopping

YES / *NO*

Flash hazard lights in emergency stopping

YES / *NO*

Brake lights work even when ignition is off

*YES* / NO

Other:

Lower passenger-side mirror when in reverse gear (may need memory seats)

*YES* / NO

Auto-enable rear wiper when front wipers on and reverse gear engaged

*YES* / NO

Auto-enable rear wiper when front wipers on (interval) and reverse gear engaged

*YES* / NO

Auto-enable rear wiper when front wipers on (continuous) and reverse gear engaged

*YES* / NO

Additional 'tear' wipe after rear window washer use

YES / *NO*

[trundlenut]

Nice advert!

Does it do CAN as well as OBDII then?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[JackHill]

Ha! For the avoidance of doubt, I have nothing to do with the developer! I'll be honest, I don't know, but I assume yes if it can pull off the same fault codes as VCDS.

[trundlenut]

So you can access all the controllers not just engine, abs, airbags etc.

I had a thought that not all elm327 dongles are equal.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[JackHill]

Ah right. Yes, I think so. Below is a dump of the info it pulled off about my car.

I just bought a cheap one off ebay. Can probably dig out the details if interested...

Engine

Part #: 03L906022QJ

Component: R4 2,0L EDC G000

Coding: 1078 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Transmission

Part #: 02E300052S

Component: GSG DSG AG6

Coding: 20 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

ABS

Part #: 1K0907379AH

Component: ESP MK60EC1

Coding: 863D601609240003610B06EB90210082340000 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Steering angle

[failed to connect]

Power steering

Part #: 1K0909144J

Component: EPS_ZFLS Kl. 196

Coding: [none]

[No fault codes]

Airbags

Part #: 3T0959655A

Component: J234__LC0 VW10 H

Coding: 17200 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Headlight aiming

Part #: 5M0907357C

Component: AFS-Steuergeraet

Coding: 1377095 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Parking/steering assist

Part #: 1Z0919475B

Component: PARKHILFE 4K

Coding: 100108 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Instrument cluster

Part #: 3T2920941E

Component: KOMBI

Coding: 411F00 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Immobilizer

Part #: 5K0953234

Component: IMMO

Coding: 000000 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Central electronics

Part #: 1K0937087H

Component: BCM PQ35 H+

Coding: 48190AB8F853F1C040080080110089E4417100AE736D85605C0140000000 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Body/convenience system

[failed to connect]

Driver's door

Part #: 7N0959793A

Component: TSG FA

Coding: 011D0220DE01121002 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Front passenger's door

Part #: 7N0959792A

Component: TSG BF

Coding: 011D0220DE01121002 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Rear left door

Part #: 7N0959795

Component: TSG HL

Coding: 010C00200001221002 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Rear right door

Part #: 7N0959794

Component: TSG HR

Coding: 010C00200001221002 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Driver's seat

Part #: 3C8959760

Component: J810

Coding: 3 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Steering wheel

Part #: 1K0953549CD

Component: J0527

Coding: 1732 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Heater & air conditioning

Part #: 3T0907044AS

Component: Climatronic

Coding: 0000000002 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Trunk

Part #: 7N0959107

Component: HDSG-Modul

Coding: 082301C002 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Navigation

Part #: 3T0035680B

Component: RNS-MID

Coding: 04000402000400810000 (hex)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

Radio

Part #: 3T0035680B

Component: RNS-MID

Coding: 04000402000400810000 (hex)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

Telephone

Part #: 5K0035730D

Component: TELEFON

Coding: 0200000000010110 (hex)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

CAN network gateway

Part #: 1K0907530AD

Component: J533 Gateway

Coding: EDA1FF06420602009303 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Obtained with Carista 2.2 for Android.

Download app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prizmos.carista

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caristaapp

[silver1011]

That is fantastic, downloaded!!

Which ELM327 Bluetooth adaptor did you buy, any links!?

[J306TD]

Do you have the engine running or just the ignition on?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[JackHill]

Silver1011 - I can't find the exact one in my ebay history - I bought it too long ago, but it was one like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TORQUE-ANDROID-Super-Mini-ELM327-V2-1-OBD2-OBDII-Bluetooth-Adapter-Auto-Scanner-/321119635389?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ac438c7bd

Any one will do- I'd go for on that says it's v2.1 and that says it supports CAN BUS, like this one. You can get wifi ones as well, but I've only ever used bluetooth.

J306TD - For faults I have the engine running. It also does some kind of rudimentary emissions test- I've never used it, but I think the engine has to have been running for a bit for it to work.

For customisation the app says within it that the ignition should be on, but the engine should not be running, so that's what I did.

One thing I should mention. I noticed that when I reset the country to Australia I lost some of the other settings on the Maxidot got reset to default (nothing major- clock, language etc were fine. Needed to set units back to miles from km). I just set them again in the Maxidot.

To get the big mph display, there is a setting in the top level menu of the Maxidot that says something like "alternative unit display" uncheck this option, then the big speed display option appears with all the other possibilities that you can select in the MFD.

Hope that helps...

[DGW]

The Apple (iOS) version is 1.0 which was updated on 20 Mar 2015. I don't know how that compares with version 2.0 for Android.

Carista warn that most ELM- compatible devices that claim to be v2.1 are fake and do not work. v1.4 or newer is required for customisations or advanced diagnostics.

[Brimma]

I'd still rather have the security of the long coding feature of VCDS, even if it is dearer

[JackHill]

DGW - you're quite right http://www.caristaapp.com/hardware/

maybe go for a v1.5 off ebay then.

It says that the iOS version has the same functionality http://www.caristaapp.com/ios/ but obviously I have no experience of this!

[DGW]

I'd still rather have the security of the long coding feature of VCDS, even if it is dearer

Me too, Bryan, and with VCDS changes can always be reversed successfully if a scan is done first - except for the well-known hidden Byte. But this device intrigues me and has me thinking about other software which can be used with a wifi dongle.

[J306TD]

Gave it a go here's mine

ECU info obtained with Carista 2.2.1 for Android:

Engine

Part #: 1Z0907115D

Component: 2.0l R4/4V TFSI

Coding: 0203000318070160 (hex)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

ABS

Part #: 1K0907379AC

Component: ESP FRON

Coding: 4738 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Steering angle

[failed to connect]

Power steering

Part #: 1K2909144M

Component: EPS_ZFLS Kl.074

Coding: [none]

[No fault codes]

Airbags

Part #: 1K0909605T

Component: Q4 AIRBAG VW8

Coding: 20788 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Headlight aiming

Part #: 1T0907357

Component: Dynamische LWR

Coding: 7 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Instrument cluster

Part #: 1Z0920942C

Component: KOMBIINSTRUMENT

Coding: 7401 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Immobilizer

Part #: 1Z0920942C

Component: IMMO

Coding: [none]

[No fault codes]

Central electronics

Part #: 3C0937049AJ

Component: Bordnetz-SG

Coding: E18E8F130004140000110D000000000000087F065C000000000000000000 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Body/convenience system

Part #: 1K0959433BT

Component: KSG PQ35 G2

Coding: 81801A085283007F3F02050FC0085F96907C00 (hex)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

Driver's door

Part #: 1T0959701D

Component: Tuer-SG

Coding: 756 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Front passenger's door

Part #: 1T0959702D

Component: Tuer-SG

Coding: 756 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Rear left door

Part #: 1K0959703J

Component: Tuer-SG

Coding: 144 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Rear right door

Part #: 1K0959704J

Component: Tuer-SG

Coding: 144 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Steering wheel

Part #: 1K0953549BN

Component: J0527

Coding: 42 (decimal)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

Heater & air conditioning

Part #: 1Z0907044AC

Component: ClimatronicPQ35

Coding: [none]

[No fault codes]

Parking sensors

Part #: 1Z0919283B

Component: Parkhilfe 4-Kan

Coding: 1 (decimal)

[No fault codes]

Navigation

Part #: 3T0035680B

Component: RNS-MID

Coding: 0E000400000100030000 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Radio

Part #: 3T0035680B

Component: RNS-MID

Coding: 0E000400000100030000 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Telephone

Part #: 3C8035730

Component: Telefon

Coding: 20121 (decimal)

[Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes]

CAN network gateway

Part #: 1K0907530P

Component: J533__Gateway

Coding: E9817F0E4006021303 (hex)

[No fault codes]

Obtained with Carista 2.2.1 for Android.

Download app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prizmos.carista

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caristaapp

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[J306TD]

Now with it saying "Purchase Pro Package to see fault codes" do I have any? Or is it a marketing scam?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[softscoop]

I have just downloaded this to see how I get on with my mk2 Octavia.

I've got several fault codes that show up using vcds, but torque pro shows nothing. Will be interesting to see what this shows

[J306TD]

I have just downloaded this to see how I get on with my mk2 Octavia.

I've got several fault codes that show up using vcds, but torque pro shows nothing. Will be interesting to see what this shows

I scanned with Torque Pro and nothing showed up. :confused:

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[Noddy90]

I've taken a punt with a £5 dongle + Carista + OBD Car Doctor Pro + Torque Pro.  Total cost = about a tenner; not much to lose if falls over.

 

Actually, what I MOST want VCDS for is to adjust my headlight level/range.  I know this package won't allow me to do that, but I still might get some cheap amusement out of it...

[silver1011]

I've taken a punt with a £5 dongle + Carista + OBD Car Doctor Pro + Torque Pro.  Total cost = about a tenner; not much to lose if falls over.

 

Actually, what I MOST want VCDS for is to adjust my headlight level/range.  I know this package won't allow me to do that, but I still might get some cheap amusement out of it...

 

What are the other bits for?

 

Carista is the downloaded App?

 

I'm guessing the 'OBD Car Doctor Pro' is the plug-in adaptor that plugs into the cars diagnostic port? This relays the data to the App on the phone via Bluetooth.

 

So what are the other bits for?

[softscoop]

Well it showed up that fault codes are under the same parts as vcds shows.

Without paying for the pro version I can't say whether it shows the same, but looks good so far.

[Noddy90]

What are the other bits for?

 

Carista is the downloaded App?

 

I'm guessing the 'OBD Car Doctor Pro' is the plug-in adaptor that plugs into the cars diagnostic port? This relays the data to the App on the phone via Bluetooth.

 

So what are the other bits for?

 

Car Doctor and Torque are just other Android apps which seem to come well recommended; they do real-time data analysis, but I don't know how useful they'll be...

[silver1011]

Was just about to buy this...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OBD2-ELM327-V1-5-Bluetooth-Car-Scanner-Android-Torque-Auto-Scan-Tool-OBD-II-/111088326026?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19dd61558a

 

...and then noticed that in the listing it says that it won't work with diesel engine cars!?

[J306TD]

Well it showed up that fault codes are under the same parts as vcds shows.

Without paying for the pro version I can't say whether it shows the same, but looks good so far.

So basically Torque Pro is a waste of money as it doesn't show fault codes that are there?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[softscoop]

Correct, torque can only access generic obd codes.

This can read all of them by the looks of it

[J306TD]

Correct, torque can only access generic obd codes.

This can read all of them by the looks of it

Thanks. Have you tried the pro version?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[silver1011]

Just bought one of these!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271623595403