Has anyone used one of the available code readers such as Carista or OBDeleven?

 

Ive been looking into unlocking/coding some of the cars hidden features, with parking lights etc.

 
I’ve also read you can make adaptions to the haldex by operating the “increasing traction” function.

 

in light of Gen 5 Haldex issues and the filters and strainers getting blocked. I’m not sure if that would help or not?

 

whats everyone’s thoughts?

I use OBDELEVEN and have used it to do the long coding with no issues. You have to purchase the pro version or above to enable long coding. Also make sure to do a full backup of all control units before making any changes.

There's a couple of stickied threads at the top of the forum involving coding. 

 

As far as Carista vs. OBD 11 is concerned - Carista is rarely mentioned here, OBD11 is used quite a lot. 

 

In regards to the Haldex question: you're essentially asking the car to lock up the Haldex more frequently, therefore wearing its clutch more. I don't see how this can be purely beneficial for longevity. 

 

 - Bret

As far as the haldex is concerned, the only way to prevent clogging is regular oil change and filter clean. It’s not overly hard, just messy.

2 hours ago, o6w6e6n said:

Has anyone used one of the available code readers such as Carista or OBDeleven?

Carista is fine for basic unlocking of certain features. Yet to dabble with it on the Octy but on my former Fabia it was good for cornering lights, fuel refill amount on dash, lap timer (not that I ever used it 🤣), hill-hold etc.

I don't know what I'd do on the Octy that it doesn't already have enabled with current hardware.

With that said, I don't have auto lights so am strongly considering getting the associated sensor and light switch, which I've read requires coding to enable (so Carista doesn't suffice).

In short, it depends really on how much you're planning on doing.

I’d be wary of Carista as you have no idea what changes are being made to your coding, nor any way of logging the changes. On that same vein, I’d also suggest not using the OBDEleven “apps” to perform changes. Spend a little bit more on the Pro pack and do the coding changes yourself following the guides available on this forum. 

1 hour ago, wg100 said:

I’d be wary of Carista as you have no idea what changes are being made to your coding, nor any way of logging the changes. On that same vein, I’d also suggest not using the OBDEleven “apps” to perform changes. Spend a little bit more on the Pro pack and do the coding changes yourself following the guides available on this forum. 

Useful point. 
Does OBDEleven work on iPhones these days or not? 

Just now, Benz3ne said:

Useful point. 
Does OBDEleven work on iPhones these days or not? 

Yes. It's not the same as VCDS of course, but it works. You can do long coding and adaptations now.

 

On 17/07/2020 at 21:43, wg100 said:

Yes. It's not the same as VCDS of course, but it works. You can do long coding and adaptations now.

 

I'm wondering whether it'll work with a Carista dongle... Everything I've seen points towards 'no' but thought I'd ask all the same.

I have a Carista dongle and have used it on my 2011 Yeti S DSG to carry out some basic changes/diagnostics as I am new to vcds coding/etc. 
 

I it is basic in nature which in a way if something changed “goes wrong” it will not affect your car too much (from a safety point of view). 
 

the changes I done with Carista were: 

 

- changed behaviour of car locks (unlock all doors with a single click on keyfob). 
- hold lock/unlock button to close/open all windows. 
- changed hillclimb hold intensity and timings. 

I believe most of those settings could be done if my car had the maxidot dashboard. 
 

Other than that, I just use it for fault code checks. 

1 hour ago, Benz3ne said:

I'm wondering whether it'll work with a Carista dongle... Everything I've seen points towards 'no' but thought I'd ask all the same.

No, OBD eleven requires the OBD eleven dongle.

 

 - Bret

Just now, brettikivi said:

No, OBD eleven requires the OBD eleven dongle.

 

 - Bret

Assumed as much, thank you Bret.