CARISTA OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner and App: Diagnostics
CARISTA OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner and App: Diagnostics, Customizations, Service Procedures and Live Data for your VW, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Nissan, Infiniti, Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Mini
STEP 1
Plug the Carista adapter firmly in your car’s OBD port and turn the ignition on.
STEP 2
Switch the Bluetooth on, open Carista app and press “Connect”.
STEP 3
Choose from the list of features and see what your car is capable of.
| Weight: | 60 g |
| Dimensions: | 9.8 x 7 x 3.4 cm; 60 Grams |
| Brand: | CARISTA |
| Manufacture: | Carista |
| Dimensions: | 9.8 x 7 x 3.4 cm; 60 Grams |
| Reference: | COBD-BT25 |
Carista
Works well using the app, get all sorts of live data, also you can relearn tps, dsg basic position, disable electronic handbrake so you can change the discs and pads yourself.
Unlock car hidden features.
I know it’s for the vag group, but I tried it on a vauxhall and it read the codes and reset the faults . But didn’t give any extras like it’s does on the vags.
Only thing to note you need a subscription to use it…
Great bit of kit!
Bought to use in a VW Transporter.
Connects great, all features work as they should and really handy to diagnose faults and customise vehicle settings.
Overall great product that I’d recommend.
Good Price
I was unsure whether to buy this as I have been debating whether to do my rear brakes myself or have a garage do them.When I noticed the product price had dropped to 24.49 I was also able to add a code to receive a further 25% off which brought it down to just above 18 and that’s when I decided to buy it.It has worked well in doing some customised changes but I’m not ready to do the brakes yet so can’t comment on that part but sure it will work ok so overall very pleased.
Love it!!!
Did everything I wanted feels like I’ve modified my car. However only thing I would say is it’s a bit annoying as you have to get a subscription to use this
8/10 great product. Read
Great Product woth a host of many features at a great price. Make sure you read small print as the 2 months free trial is only valid when u purchase an annual membership not pay monthly
I’ve had this installed on my 2013 Audi A5 2.0tdi start stop for 10mins and already love it!
I’ve finally turned off that dreaded stop start that I hate on my car, everytime I open the car door the engine used to switch off which in theory is a great safety feature but in reality it’s a pain, turned that off and it worked perfectly. I also turned on the passenger mirror tilt on reverse (bonus) and turned on the bleep noise when the car is locked and unlocked (lovely).
I work on my own cars and doing the rear breaks will be a dream now I can wind back the pistons on the electronic handbrake.
I tried diagnosing the car but it came back with 0 faults so I can’t comment on whether it will clear any fault codes or not but I’m 99% sure it will.
In order to receive your free 1 month trial you have to purchase the yearly subscription (about 45) which you can cancel before it’s due (after 1 month) honestly it’s worth every penny!
Dont think just get it, doing my brother in laws bmw 5 series in a few days so will update on that car.
I bought it to clear some faults on my mother in laws polo that didn’t self clear after replacing an O2 sensor. When I connected to the app I was informed that to unlock the features I needed I would have to subscribe, it isn’t a huge cost (much cheaper than garage diagnostics) but still an extra cost I wasn’t expecting. Other than that it worked perfectly and I will be using it again in the future.
Great device and easy to use
Awesome little device if you want to make some car customizations like needle sweep, and view/clear any fault codes. This will save you some money as people tend to charge quite a bit for coding sessions.
Excellent scanner, does the job highly recommended especially if you have a Vag car.
B6 Passat - have for DIY mechanics
Likes:
* Value for money
* Access to dealership-level diagnostics such as rear calliper rewind and DPF regen
* Loads of customisation. I enabled US lights, cornering lights and coming/leaving home lights on my B6 Passat
* Works as a regular OBD scanner on any car, providing fault codes, a brief description, and ability to clear codes and reset MIL.
I bought this for my new to me 2010 B6 Passat to get an insight on if the car needed any work that may not have been picked up on before, also to customise my car with some extras that either weren’t available in my region or weren’t enabled on my car when it was new. At 50 for a year subscription to the premium service, in addition to the 40 to the unit, that’s 90 you can easily recoup in savings on diagnostic fees and labour if you have a toolbox and aren’t afraid to get your hands and clothes dirty. Really wish I had one when I had my previous car as it would have saved on a lot of guesswork!
Brilliant bit of kit 👍
Brilliant bit of kit to keep in the car. Easy to use. I bought it to check a car I was buying to see if it had any underlying issues hiding beneath the surface. All good and verified the mileage too. Perfec
Un gioiellino per chi fa da sè la manutenzione della vettura. Testato su Toyota Prius My2010
Sono venuto a conoscenza di questa interfaccia sui forum che parlano di auto ibride. Ho una Toyota Prius My2010 (terza serie) immatricolata a Luglio 2011. La mia esperienza personale stata molto positiva: mi ha risolto un problema. L’installazione semplicissima: la stessa difficolt di infilare una presa elettrica, bisogna solo trovare nella vostra auto dove collocata la porta OBD (in rete trovate tutti i riferimenti). Una volta collegata si illumina e capite che operativa. La abbinate al vostro telefono dotato di Bluetooth e potete vedere vita morte e miracoli della vostra auto tramite apposita app. La app un discorso svincolato dall’oggetto e possiamo scegliere quella del produttore che ha un costo da valutare prima o vedere fra le molte altre disponibili, alcune anche gratuite. Personalmente ho scelto la app di Torque Pro che con ben 3,5 euro una tantum vi d tutta una serie di funzionalit. Nel mio caso ho potuto resettare l’allarme sulle batterie di trazione elettrica ripristinando il perfetto funzionamento della mia auto. NON ripara la batteria ma permette di usare ancora l’auto normalmente in attesa di intervento di sostituzione, differenza abissale dato che senza le batterie a disposizione i consumi di carburante quasi raddoppiano! Tutti i dettagli tecnici dell’interfaccia li trovate gi in rete, io posso confermare l’affidabilit di funzionamento ed efficacia. Consigliatissima e occhio al prezzo : periodicamente offerta con uno sconto. Una diagnostica fatta in Toyota mi sarebbe costata il doppio, app inclusa. Ora posso verificare errori e malfunzionamenti in qualsiasi momento con il mio telefono. Nella confezione troverete esclusivamente l’interfaccia e delle semplici istruzioni per collegarla e supporto del produttore.
As advertised
Worked for what I needed it to. Changing KMPH to MPH on my VW T6. Many other functions too. Very happy
Carista OBD2, come diventare professionisti della propria auto!
COS’E’ CARISTA?
Carista uno strumento semplice ed intuitivo, adatto anche a coloro che non sono meccanici o professionisti, che permette di eseguire diagnosi, personalizzazioni e manutenzioni sulla propria vettura.
Si compone di due parti, una hardware rappresentata da un adattatore OBD2 Bluetooh da connettere alla propria auto, e da una software, ovvero l’app scaricabile dal Play Store (per cellulari Android) o dall’App Store (per dispositivi Apple).
VETTURE SUPPORTATE
Collegandosi al sito web ufficiale possibile cliccare in alto sulla sezione “Veicoli”, cercare la propria vettura e leggere in anteprima l’elenco di operazioni che sar possibile eseguire senza dover acquistare il dispositivo.
PREZZO ADATTATORE E ABBONAMENTI
L’adattatore ha un prezzo di listino di 39,99 euro, ma per il mese di Dicembre in sconto del 30%, quindi acquistabile a 27,99 euro. Personalmente ho utilizzato un ulteriore codice sconto trovato su Youtube, raggiungendo una convenienza d’acquisto a cui non ho potuto davvero rinunciare.
Per utilizzare il dispositivo sar necessario sottoscrivere un abbonamento ma non preoccupatevi, ve ne sono per tutte le esigenze, da quello mensile a quello annuale, a partire dalla modica cifra di 9,99 euro, davvero conveniente rispetto al prezzo di una diagnosi convenzionale fatta in qualunque officina.
Scegliendo l’opzione abbonamento annuale al primo utilizzo avrete un mese di prova gratuito senza dover anticipare alcuna somma di denaro, e potrete disdire tale abbonamento in anticipo senza ricevere alcun addebito successivo. Per gli utenti Android sufficiente recarsi nel Play Store nella sezione “Pagamenti e abbonamenti” e annullare l’iscrizione in caso di ripensamenti.
FUNZIONAMENTO
Per utilizzare Carista sufficiente inserirlo nella porta OBD della proprio auto (sotto il volante, in genere a sinistra), attivare il Bluetooth sul proprio cellulare, avviare l’app e connettersi al veicolo. Apparir una schermata con informazioni sul telaio della vettura, la carica della batteria e dei men intuitivi da cui iniziare ad eseguire operazioni sulla propria auto:
– Personalizzazione (tantissime e di ogni tipo, dalle luci ai finestrini al cruscotto ecc.)
– Diagnosi (rilevazioni di malfunzionamenti e guasti con relativo codice e possibilit di reset)
– Manutenzione (reset tagliandi, freno di stazionamento, registrazione batteria ecc.)
– Dati in tempo reale (pressione turbo, verifica chilometraggio, conteggio collisioni airbag ecc.)
IN CONCLUSIONE
Personalmente Carista ha soddisfatto pienamente le mie esigenze, per cui lo valuto 10/10. Non ho esperienza con altri dispositivi venduti dalla concorrenza, ma questo ha perfettamente svolto tutto ci che desideravo eseguire sulla mia vettura.
Molte funzioni rappresentano una vera miniera d’oro non solo per chi volesse approfondire la conoscenza del proprio veicolo, ma anche per chi volesse cimentarsi nella manutenzione dello stesso senza l’obbligo di recarsi in una tradizionale officina.
Non posso che consigliarne caldamente l’acquisto a chi fosse alla ricerca di un dispositivo semplice, economico ed intuitivo come alternativa al tradizionale software di diagnosi VAG.
**Se ti piaciuta questa recensione clicca pure sul tasto “Utile” qui sotto, grazie!**
It works
Well I tried on my e60 bmw 2007, it reads most of it and yiu can delete errors but shows nothing on customise like enable or disable some features on car.
Tried on Tiguan 2011 and on that it works perfectly on errors and coding some of customise features from car.
Small but powerful OBD2 reader.
Easy to connect to iPad via Bluetooth, easy to set up and great range of diagnostic options. You will need to download an app on your phone or iPad, which should recognise Carista device. I use Car Scanner App but many others are available.
Obd2
Nulla da dire sulla praticit del prodotto, prezzi abbonamento forse leggermente elevati.
Unica delusione il fatto che ordinato il 13/12 pagato 39,99 mentre il giorno successivo ovvero il 14/12 in vendita a . 27,99 stesso venditore.
Good OBD tool, but I’ve seen better.
I had Carly for several years, it helps to diagnose my cars and change a few settings here and there. The prices are fairly decent compared to other OBD tools, it is easy to use, works as it should.
Great produc
Great and easy to use the product
Perfect product for saving money in the garage
To be honest this was bought for my son for his car and it worked for him. He’s had no complaints so I presume it has done what he needed it to do. Sorry this isn’t a more practical review on the item itself
Funktioniert wie beschrieben. Alles bestens.
Rckstellung der elektronischen Parkbremse funktioniert. Man muss nur diese vorm Aktivieren der Servicefunktion manuell lsen.
I bought this to change a few little things on my car and also check any codes that had shown up, works as intended but as soon as you get the app you can connect and then if you try to change any of the default settings it makes you pay a subscription that is 40 a year roughly although not much would be useful to know before buying.
Reset replace 12v battery warning light on my ca
My 2015 Golf GTE needed a replacement 12v battery, all garages were quoting around 300 for a simple replace and reset warning light. Bought a new battery, fitted it and reset warning light. Also turned off annoying door ping when the ignition is on. Saved me 200 and I now have the kit for future repairs.
Fa il suo dovere
Prodotto utilissimo fa il suo lavoro, l’unica pecca che una volta comprato il prodotto non finisce l va fatto un abbonamento in base alle proprie esigenze dopo di che si pu utilizzare con tutte le sue funzioni che offre. (Consiglio: forse abbassare un po’ i prezzi dei vari abbonamenti sarebbe pi onesto)
Usato per modifice golf 5
Gi provato e modificato tanti funzioni della mia golf 5 soddisfatto e consiglio achi vole personificare la sua machina
Ottimo!
UTILIZZO SU TOYOTA YARIS 2021
Ho appena finito di “smanettare” con questo dispositivo che, in teoria, permette di personalizzare alcuni dettagli delle nostre auto e, ovviamente, eseguire diagnosi totale con relativo spegnimento di eventuali spie
Vi arriver una piccola scatola senza istruzioni perch in effetti non servono.
Il dispositivo si collega ad una presa bianca che trovate sotto il volante leggermente a sinistra. Lo collegate e stop. Dovete solamente scaricare l’app Carista sul proprio cellulare, aprite l’app e premere su “connetti”. Pi semplice di cos non credo sia possibile
Per effettuare le modifiche sui dettagli bisogna attivare il mese di prova gratuito. Se pensate che non vi servir pi il dispositivo ricordate di disattivare il rinnovo automatico, altrimenti dopp 30giorni scatta l’abbonamento a 49 l’anno.
L’app fantastica, semplicissima, intuitiva, a prova di nonno insomma
Peccato per che sulla nostra Yaris le modifiche possibile sono veramente, ma veramente poche!
– Ho potuto togliere il segnale acustico delle cinture di sicurezza posteriori.
– Aumentato a 4 lampeggi la freccia per il cambio corsia.
– Attivato la discesa di tutti i finestrini se tengo premuto il pulsante del telecomando per aprire l’auto.
Ci sono poche altre cose che si possono personalizzare, tipo: Dopo quanto tempo si spegne il quadro dopo che avete tolto le chiavi dal cruscotto. Se fare accendere o no le luci abitacolo quando togliete le chiavi dal cruscotto. Reset per la pressione delle gomme. Attivare/disattivare il sensore pioggia dei tergicristalli. E mi sembra basta.
Insomma veramente poca roba. Peccato perch su tante altre auto so che ci sono un sacco di personalizzazioni
Ovviamente rimane sempre super utile per quanto riguarda la diagnosi generale dell’auto e per spegnere le spie.
Io non user queste funzioni sulla Yaris perch per qualsiasi problema la porter in concessionaria Toyota, per penso di tenermi comunque questo dispositivo per le altre auto (vecchie) di famiglia. Magari pu tornare utile!
Good adapte
Good adapter but app not compatible with my car . I downloaded car scanner for 2.99 and it work perfectly with i
Good but not perfec
Read my VW Passat and it came up with camshaft sensor fault but after mechanic came it was tyre pressure. But overall it is a good tool
GOOD scanne
GOOD,for me customisation is limited for my skoda Octavia mk2 facelif
Has its up and downs
This is probably the best user-friendly OBD reader. However, without the subscription, it’s pretty much the same as a ELM obd reader. It could do with more vehicles and better coding features on existing vehicles
Small price to pay
Just changed my trusty old van for a shiny 2018 VW T6 Highline. So many new toys on the dash & steering wheel though, some of which were simply annoying as hell with others not activated as standard.
The Carista dongle simply plugged in & once connected to the app allowed easy access to customizing what I did & didn’t want. Changed the MFD options to get rid of the KPH readout & switch to the UK correct big MPH display, turned off the annoying seat belt alert plus a further 2/3 options the local dealer wanted me to pay extra for.
Well worth the price with the included free 1st month access to all options, just remember to turn off the auto renew if you don’t wanna pay for the year.
A very useful little dongle
I needed my car to adopt a new battery by updating the BEM info into the car computer. I originally thought I would have to visit a garage to update it for a hefty fee then I found this incredibly useful device. After plugging the device to my car OBD’s port, the connection established automatically via Bluetooth. From the app, I managed to not only update the battery info but also discovered a few faults I managed to clear. When you register the app, you are offered a 1 month trial of all the features (mainly being able to write back the changes to the car onboard computer). If you want to save money, feel empowered by being able to diagnostic your car by yourself, don’t hesitate and buy one now.
Quite Impressive, but additional costs!
Bought to diagnose issues with VW and Skoda vehicles. Works really well on both and, luckily, provides plenty of diagnostic info on both of my vehicles (although accept not the same level of data for all vehicles). Was also able to customise some features, which was a bonus (although many features were not available for my particular vehicles due to model / age)! But you do have to enter some kind of subscription for detailed access, but if it finds a fault you can fix then it’s money well spent. It should also be said that the Carista device will work with other (free) apps, which was a pleasant surprise.
Amazing!
I had one or two obd scanners in the past but all did some basic readings and odd code reset. But this one actually is quite useful. I’ve used it on Audi A6 C7 2012 and Audi A1 2012 as well and can tell you it’s great value for money. I used to work for Audi and some of the features on certain cars with the older MMI versions were unavailable like folding the mirrors when locked on Q3 and A1 due to the option jot being available for those SW versions despite the cars having power mirrors. However, no problem enabling it with this one. Lots of customisation depending on the car and very detailed diagnostics available as well. One of the things that surprised me is the option to read the soot level in the DPF! It will recommend to perform DPF regeneration or not, based on that reading. Obviously can’t do the more complex operations that you can with VCDS but amazing what it can from an app on your phone. Absolutely recommended it!
Fine with my VW
Easy to install and once the app is loaded to my android phone does the basic analysis. Worked fine with a mk 7 Golf, but not so well with a mk 6 Polo – 1 fault not clear . To reset faults, needed to purchase subscription, but can buy one month at a time – ~10
Superb.
This is a very good little thing, & for the price, it’s well worth it.
I have a 2017 Mk7 Vw Golf & it works superb with the car. I changed my rear indicators to “pace car” & they look superb now.
It also works well with the iPhone app. I did subscribe to the monthly subscription, as my car has an electronic handbrake & I will be able to change the rear brake pads when the time comes by using this to wind the brake calliper pistons back.
Overall, it is definitely worth the money & I have not even scratched the surface of the thing’s that you are able to do with it, but I will.
10 out of 10 from me.
Be patient with it!
It didn’t accessas much as I’d hoped. Some of the engine temperature parametes wern’t accessible.
The changes I made didn’t take effect immediately. I had to drive the car for a bit before things like cornering lights started working. The ECU scan initially said that the Steering angle ECU wasn’t fitted! Finding my way around it.
Excellent value at only £25, definitely worth a consideration over OBDEleven for anyone.
TL;DR – If you’re considering coding for your vehicle Carista may provide far superior value to OBDEleven (check your vehicle is supported before purchase).
Have been debating between Carista and OBDEleven for awhile now, and decided to go with Carista as it’s only 25 vs OBDEleven which is 60 and requires either credits or a PRO subscription.
Now while Carista does require a subscription to use the premium features (runs 10 a month or a year for 44), you do get a month free when you purchase the device so if you’re just looking to enable a host of features on your vehicle and then only use the device for basic tasks such as fault code checking / clearing then you will realistically not need to purchase a subscription.
Carista allowed me to customise a wide range of features on my 2013 A6 C7, such as disabling seatbelt warning, reset service indicator, enable tail lights as DRL etc. etc.
Honestly being able to customise every setting I could have wanted to touch for the same price as you’d pay one-off for someone with VCDS, and still be able to have the dongle around for any warning lights or fault codes is excellent value.
Works great, exactly what I needed and more
My car: Skoda Octavia MkII 2009 2.0 TDi 16v PD Elegance 140
I was nervous as I’d seen some bad reviews on here but took the chance. Glad I did! Downloaded app, plugged the adaptor into my car, connected straight away. Initially was concerned that it hadn’t unlocked all premium features (advertised as coming with one month free) but I just had to go to unlock/purchase and confirm the one month trial (which turns into annual if not cancelled). Showed me loads of codes, some I knew about, some I didn’t. Reset all and saw the few that came back which has helped me identify the error code/problem. It doesn’t give detailed info, just the error name and code but clicking on it starts a google search for the error code so I’m now off to trawl through forums to find out the easiest fix for my issue.
As a bonus, I played with the customisation menu and found some stuff in there I didn’t even know my car could do like daytime running lights and using fog lights as cornering lights, plus lots of other stuff.
Great piece of ki
If you have a car which is compatible with this device then it is really good to use. I used this with the 1 month free trial and it was brilliant. I have marked it down to 4 stars only due to the fact of the price it costs for the apps monthly trial. Overall it is a good piece of ki
Reasonable
I have a VW Scirocco.
I certainly can’t knock this down because it does have a lot of functionality for customisation, albeit I probably only use three or four of the settings different to the factory settings. On the Australia setting I can get the MPH on the MFD which is great.
In itself, 25 is a good amount of money for the actual adapter. However, you’re quickly pushed into paying a premium subscription in order to continue use of it. So although the first free trial month is nice, it’s 45-ish to continue its use per year.
So if you have the spare money and you kind of want to explore customisation and just have a little bit of customisation that is realistically usable or makes the car better, you might enjoy it. If you don’t, you can absolutely live without it.
Carista is probably one of the better known home diagnostic and ‘customising’ OBD tools on the market.
I had access to one in the past and this helped in my decision to purchase it.
The plug-in reader is small and neat – it tucks away in the OBD port in the car, and you could leave it plugged in if you wish.
You can only connect through the Carista app on your smartphone/device and you don’t need to Bluetooth sync it.
The readouts and information are good – it’s much more in depth than a basic plug-in OBDII reader, and gives you details on faults in the electrical systems, infotainment, transmission, etc. as well as the general engine systems.
Where your vehicle allows you can customise some parts of the general vehicle functionality, such as convenience systems, light operation, locking acknowledgements, etc.
I added an alarm ‘bip’ when I lock the car.
Sadly you have to pay a subscription to access all features after the one-month free trial (which was priced at 46.99 a year when I purchased this unit in January 2021). You have to sign up to this subscription before you can access any features, but you can cancel at the end of your one month trial.
Overall a good system and I would recommend it, but might not be worth the subscription price if you’re not going to use all the features.
Better deal than Carly, albeit with less features
If you are solely interested in reading/clearing codes for your BMW/VAG, and doing basic coding, this device is much better value for money than Carly. I have used both and Carly appears to be a little more advanced, giving you DPF diagnostic data, Gearbox Adaptations and other important data, none of which is currently present with Carista. In fact with a VW Tiguan, almost all of the DTCs were just error code numbers with no definition other than “manufacturer-specific code”, which isn’t very helpful or convenient.
They are making regular updates, however, so I’d like to think they made some of these features at some point. I recommend that you check the app store when reading this, and see what they have added as software updates most recently since this review, it’s possible that my complaints I’ve written now won’t be true in the future.
Great product, great price. Couldn’t recommend it more.
I bought this item to save myself some money from forking out for vagcom (VCDS) and although it obviously doesn’t have as many features as vagcom it is certainly a great product with a lot of features considering the cost of this item. It’s also very handy as it’s small and just connects to your phone or tablet through bluetooth so I personally keep mine in the car at all times. The customisation options are also cool and something you can’t do using a normal cheap “eBay” scanner. This item also removes things like air bag lights which you would usually have to have a garage do for you, however if you don’t know what is causing these lights I would recommend you get it checked out properly. I 100% recommend this product, it’s great, and for the cost you can’t really go wrong. You do need to make sure it will work with your vehicle which you can do on Carista’s website so I would suggest you do this before purchasing but providing it’s compatible with your vehicle I would definitely recommend this item.
Definitely one of the best car scanners for DIY!
Brilliant! Probably the best piece of kit I’ve purchased for car DIY. With the subscription features enabled (as part of the free 1-month trial), Carista gave me access to basically all the codes and settings I could wish for. I got my Golf Mk5 airbag light reset in two minutes, enabled my rear hatch pop function, plus got rid of some annoying settings like having to double-click the key fob button to unlock rear doors.
However I did notice that the free features in the app are quite limited, so a subscription is a must. In terms of subscription pricing, I would say it is OK to get weekly access for occasional use to read/reset some fault codes – that’s cheaper than most local garages ask for a code reset. More frequent users might want to think about the annual plan, but then again the price of that would pay in 3-4 years for an OEM or professional grade unit with even more options and guaranteed long-term support. So I think there is a price point missing between there somewhere – more free features? Cheaper weekly/daily rate? Life subscription?
Other than that, I was completely pleased with it!
Excellent Plug and Play tool
I’d just bought a 2014 Audi A6 C7 and was looking for a simple solution to tweak some settings and read codes. After doing some research (and there’s a hint to all you low-rating reviewers) I found Carista. Checked the website and confirmed that it fully supported my vehicle (another hint to all you low-rating reviewers) and purchased it.
Arrived promptly, plugged it in and effortless connected to the app on my iPhone. Read all the codes and for most provided a decent explanation for codes from all the modules and not just the main ECU. Enabled the 1 month trial and performed some easy tweaks to enable some features (enable hidden green menu in MMI, chirp on alarm arm, remember auto start/stop setting). All very easy to perform. I set myself a reminder to review my subscription in 3 weeks, but the Apple Store reminded me anyway so I could cancel or continue with a yearly sub if I chose.
All-in-all, an excellent product, which does EXACTLY WHAT IT CLAIMS TO DO, if you simply put in the effort to do some simple research and understand what it’s supposed to do and if it’s compatible with your vehicle.
Annoying that an excellent product is getting negative reviews because people are too stupid or lazy to carry out some basic research themselves before purchasing, or blaming the product because they forgot to cancel the subscription. Yes you have to pay to enable some advanced features, but with a 1 month trial, I did most of what I wanted over a few days.
A little marvel.
Came cross this OBD2 scanner while I was looking for info on the internet for a couple of modifications I was interested in doing to my car which had to be done via the car settings at the main dealership.I had a quiet word with a technician there who said if it could be done that it would cost a fair bit to connect to their code reader and to find the code and activate the settings I wanted.After reading about Carista I looked it up on the internet and watched a few videos and couldn’t believe how easy it looked to use and at a bargain price as well so I took the plunge and bought one and I’m so pleased that I did. I took delivery download the app and went straight out to my car and followed the instructions I’d seen on the internet,it literally connected in seconds and I set to work to see if I could find what I was looking for and yes they were both there so you just click yes to change the coding and save and that’s it done in a couple of minutes I couldn’t believe it was that simple so I had a long look round the rest of the list and added a few other things that I liked the sound of.It has a fault code reader as well which you can also reset after fixing the fault saving you dealership prices.To say that I’m impressed how comprehensive and simple it is to use is an understatement and the developers deserve the 5 stars I’m awarding and more besides. I’m a very happy customer and look forward to any additions they make to the already long list of improvements available for my car.
The air blower in my 2011 BMW 520d (F10) was intermittently working, so decided to buy this ODB2 reader after learning about what ODB2 is and searching the internet for a recommended reader device.
The device is nicely packaged and the app is user friendly.
I purchased the 1 year subscription because I needed to find the fault on my air-con and my car is due for service this year, so thought it worthwhile.
The Carista reader identifed 3 fault codes for the “Heating Ventilation and Air Con (HVAC)” section. By clicking on fault, it does a Google search for the fault code. I was disappointed that Carista do not have their own database with fault code explanations.
Instead, the app just searches Google for the fault codes and you have to rely on other peoples websites for explanations and recommendations. So by searching the internet using the codes provided by Carista and my symptoms, I worked out that the likely fault is with the Final Stage Unit resistor and may be the air blower needed replacing.
I did not want to do the replacement my self, so took the car to a specialist BMW garage (not a BMW dealership) and asked them to run a diagnostic. Their reader identified the same 3 fault codes for the HVAC system and they recommended replacing the Final Stage Unit resistor and air blower.
So Carista helped me feel confident that I was not getting ripped off by the garage, because the fault codes on Carista matched the garage.
Recommendation is for Carista to have their own database of fault codes explanations.
It’s amazing to think that something so small and cheap can be so powerful. After locating my OBD2 port and downloading the app, I was able to diagnose and reset faults in my car and enable all sorts of additional features. There is no programming or technical knowledge required at all – the adapter connects to the app on your phone by Bluetooth and identifies your car automatically. It knows what options it has for your car, so it then presents a list of options with simple ON/OFF (or similar) selections that are appropriate to your car. For example, I was able to enable cornering lights on my car simply by selecting ON from the option for it (the car’s software already has the feature but it’s disabled by the manufacturer so they can enable it in other countries or on higher spec models). Other features I’ve enabled are that the hazard lights flash when braking sharply; the car’s headlights stay on for a few moments after leaving the car at night; I have additional options in the car’s menus to enable/disable the daytime running lights and other features that weren’t previously there; when closing the electric windows with the remote control, the car’s indicators flash when all windows have closed completely; etc. The specific options will certainly be different for each particular car so your best bet would be to check their website for which cars are supported. My colleagues also enabled various features in their cars and their friends cars using the same adapter and everyone has been impressed with this!
Plugged the little Carista adapter in to the BMW OBD2 port located just above the handle to pop the bonnet open. I opened the app and after a couple of seconds the little blue icon started spinning and it said diagnosing with a percentage number going up to 100%. There was no need to connect it to bluetooth, it just worked and it took around 5-6mins for diagnosing to finish at 100%.
See attached photo for result. The 2 larger print top codes were displayed, all the other codes under Engine are paid features so were not showing. The adapter comes with 31 days free trial so i activated that within the app and all the codes in the photo under Engine appeared.
The coded i got was P00BD – Mass Air Flow too high.
I took it to the garage and got them to diagnose and they called me back a few hours later and said the code was related to Mass Air Flow too high. They checked it all including any possible split pipes but could not find an issue. They reset the light and said to come back if it comes on again which it hasn’t in the last 2 days.
I probably wont use the paid features but i did like that i knew what the main code was before getting it diagnosed at the garage. Very reassuring to know what the code meant and to do a little google research in to the possible causes.
Very handy and worthwhile adapter to have with you in your car.
Very simple to use.
The best purchase I have made for my Audi
This has to be the best purchase I have made for my 2012 Audi A7!
I previously had VagCom (VCDS) but lost access to it when I switched my laptop to a MacBook. I was aware of the generic OBD 2 dongles you can get and came across this Carista dongle whilst searching for one. Boy am I glad I chose to purchase the Carista.
The dongle arrived the next day with Amazon Prime and within minutes I was up and running. I simply slotted the dongle into the OBD 2 port in my vehicle and loaded the Carista app on my iPhone.
I used the check fault code function first and cleared all codes that came up. I then added the following customisations with a single tap:
Auto boot close with button on key
Needle sweep on start up
Activated the hidden green menu
Increased DRL brightness when used with headlamps
Beep sound when locking
There are so many more customisations and you check which of them are available for your vehicle on the Carista website prior to purchasing.
I’ve now been accepted into Carista’s beta programme and am just about to try out some new customisations – all it took was an email to their support team.
The app works on subscription but you get a month’s free trial. A year’s subscription is 39.99, which is very reasonable for what you get and when considering the potential hundreds you might save by not having to take your car to the dealers to check for faults.
For 16.99, I am more than happy.
When I plugged this in and tried to find the Bluetooth device on my iPhone I started to panic as it doesn’t show up, however a quick google and I discovered you only find it via the Carista app and sure enough it does and works fine albeit a little slow on reading the diagnostics. The app works well and covers lots of cars which the developers need applauding for and offering customization in simple fashion which is certainly not true of my VCDS (for VAG only) which has vastly more configurations but is a devil to get to grips with. I would give it 5 stars if it had live data, so I’ve had to resort to other apps like OBD fusion for this, which use the dongle perfectly well, but they are ultimately less capable than Carista in giving the advanced module support especially for European cars. For the money the dongle is a bargain, just wish they had different pricing options for the app as I loath this subscription model all software vendors are moving to, its a industry disgrace but that’s another story…
My usual mechanic recommended I buy an OBDII reader for my car because I had been having issues with my EML light coming on. To begin with, I was feeling extremely apprehensive about the idea of using any diagnostics tool, I scoured the web in search of a reasonably priced reader and had found that many had various issues using cheap ones in their car (more specifically my make and model of car, VW Golf MK5). After lots of research I decided to buy the Carista reader, I liked the idea of a not so bulky reader and the ability to use an app instead of using a hand held reader which had good reviews and cost 15.99 for the privilege, be warned though, it costs 9.99 for a week or 33.99 per year and the free trial is only available if you opt for an annual subscription. It will just read codes if you opt for the free access, I wanted to be able to clear codes and that meant I had to subscribe. It does what is claims it will do and a few extras (if you subscribe). It’s easy to use and is pretty much fool proof, there is no advanced access meaning that you can’t do anything risky. If like me, you don’t know what you’re doing, this is a great option. There is the option to turn on some factory settings such as:
Beep horn when car is locked/unlocked
Daytime running lights/activation/brightness
Mirror position change automatically when reversing
Coming home lights on/off
Seat belt alarm
Auto unlock all doors
Auto unlock boot
Auto lock doors once 8MPH exceeded.
I was sceptical at first. I’m on my second Audi and currently drive a B8.5 S4. I’ve gone to my local garage and paid a few times for VCDS tweaks.
I had considered buying a small Win laptop, Rosstech cable and software, and just doing this all myself
But then along cane Carista for IOS.
I’d not had the chance in its first incarnation as it used to be Android only so delighted to see us Apple folk are now included
The app communicated as it should.
But….. I’ll admit the pricing is somewhat out of kilter and needs work. The short plan is ok but the yearly subscription is leaving me wondering what I’ll actually need 365 day access for
I guess you could potentially hook it up to a bunch of cars and charge a ‘drink’ each time for tweaking mates cars?
It’s deadly easy to use
I switched off all sorts of annoying things, added in drive select, oil temp reading etc
Has def made a nice difference and now I don’t need to keep booking into my garage
I will say, I still use another app for diagnostics and live data. Carista only seems to scan and alert to faults whereas I prefer a live reading of all the sensors too
But hey, I guess it’s still a work in progress?
You can obtain a much cheaper OBD dongle so that could cut the cost for you
Bought this, rather than an other OBD adapter, to get the free month of advanced features on the app to adjust factory settings. I’m not going to subscribe for advanced features as I’d done all I wanted to do in about an hour (actually it took about 5 minutes, but then I played with everything else before leaving the settings as they were 🙂
I use a different app (don’t think I can mention it here) to monitor engine parameters, like temperatures (having discovered the dashboard gauge lies: it’s a design feature that anything from 80 to 100 degrees shows as 90). I do amateur track days, and this is useful for seeing what the engine is really doing.
I like that this is bluetooth, so I can have my phone connected to another wifi while using it. A minor negative: the flashing lights on the adaptor are a bit irritating when driving at night (I’ll put some black tape over it). I’ve also had occasional connection problems, but turning my iphone off and on again sorts it out. Thay do lose points from me for the non-recyclable plastic and foam packaging.
Happy with the purchase, useful gadget, pleased I got it.
Brilliant but limited.
Item works really well on VAG and BMW vehicles and is very easy to use the app. advanced diagnostics on Renault’s appears ok. But for most else it’s very limited ok very a generic dongle. And from what the developers have told me they have no intentions of developing certain brand like mercedes or opel/vauxhall at all. Howeverthe likes of torque which if does well. My only gripe is currently it takes a long time to connect to most cars. Up to 5 minutes generally. But other I have tried it takes 20+ and on some cars as you can’t pick which system you want to scan it just scans them all it can take about 25 minutes to pull codes and then a similar time to clear them. The subscription charge for the advanced diagnostics and customisations is a bit steep compared to others but if you have a vag then you can footer to your hearts content,but One thing to point out is that this cannot do module programming or freehand long coding. You are restricted to what the guys code in. And at the minute cannot do functions like force a dpf regeneration of power bleed the abs pump. Only resetting some service lights and allowing servicing of electronic park brakes.
Carista for my Seat Ibiza Bocanegra
I bought the Carista OBD2 adapter you get a free month of the Pro options for the customisation option I thought that for the pro options you could a ONE OFF 40 fee and that was it turns out it’s 40 for ONE YEAR or 10 For A WEEK.
Anyway I plugged this in on my Seat Ibiza Bocanegra the first issue I can across was trying to pair the device via the Bluetooth on An iPhone 7 but I couldn’t find it however After a short while I opened the app and pressed customisable options and it connects to the adapter once it’s opened away you go.
I turned on an alarm beep when locking and unlocking so you select yes and then press save and that was that done is as simple as that.
I also made it so if I press my fob once only the drivers door opens and press it twice the rest of the car opens.
I turned off the Fog light cornering so when you turn left the left fog lights comes on so that’s been switched off.
There’s absolutely alsorts you can do with it. Do I think it’s work the money Yes because even if you didn’t have Pro options it will still read codes if your engine management light comes on but as fair as I’m aware it will read any car not just VAG if a code comes up you can press the code and it opens the internet and see what the code is but the custom options is for VAG only.
Either way this little gadget will most certainly come in handy I’ve used it on my Seat and a VW it beats paying a garage to read your codes and just to be able to customise your settings it’s brilliant.
Firstly this arrives in a nicely constructed case. Removing the device from the packaging and it is immediately obvious that the device is well constructed. It feels like a premium device.
This does the job nicely and I have tested on a number of vehicles including Ford, Renault and BMW. Its worked on every occasion showing up the faults.
On the vehicles I have tested on you can easily plug the device in, replace the interior trim and leave it there. It’s small footprints makes it ideal to just leave in place. One minor draw back to this is sometimes its a little difficult to get it back out again.
I have only tested the device on iOS. The device is bluetooth and works with the Carista App and OBD Fusion as advertised. Apples restrictions on bluetooth means that these are the only two apps I am aware of that it works on.
The adapter is really simple to use, simply plug it into the OBD2 socket of your vehicle, launch your preferred app and press connect. Hey presto you are connected to the car. There is no requirement to pair the device to your iPhone. (as I spent about 30mins trying to do) it just simply connects. I have successfully been able to read the fault code on my partners car and quickly identified the faulty part. I’m now just waiting for a new part before I fully reset the code.
I would rate this five stars if only it was compatible with more iOS apps. That is slightly unfair as that’s not entirely the manufactures fault.
My advice before buying this device would be to research the App that would be most suitable for your car. Many cars have advanced diagnostics and you ideally need to find the best App first then decide on your OBD2 device. If your car is compatible with Carista or OBD fusion then I would throughly recommend this product.
Having used both apps I would recommend the OBD fusion App. It is well designed and easy to use. Not only allowing the user to read and reset fault codes you can get live time information from a range of the sensors as the engine is running.
The OBD app also allows you to buy advanced diagnostics for certain makes and models of vehicles. I have not been able to test that yet as sadly my vehicle is too new to be supported.