Carista app - Android

[sullirw]

Has anyone had any experience using the Carista app from the android store, and know of any risks associated with it? It seems to offer some basic customisations (lights, dash instrument needle sweep etc etc). Settings can only be saved by unlocking the pro version at a hefty £15 or so, OBD2 dongle required as well.

Here's a list of customisation available to me (tested on 2012 Leon FR+)

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

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

Push-to-talk (PTT) button function
***** *PUSH-TO-TALK* / MUTE

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

Obtained with Carista 2.2.1 for Android

 

[Smoki333]

Some decent features I'd like to activate...someone must of used the app

 

[Alex]

I'd suggest to use VCDS for these modifications. It's a proven way.

 

[Ben750]

As above, use VCDS. I wouldn't risk an app to make ecu changes, though a £5 bluetooth OBDII dongle. Too many things to go wrong.

 

[mike0105]

Looks good value and have searched online it seems that VAG drivers have used it to make changes successfully. I might have a go and see what is what sometime.

Worth a read http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/612283-Carista-Andriod-App-for-our-car

 

[The_Saint]

I got a cheap ELM 327 dongle which looks identical to the second one in the Carista hardware list http://www.caristaapp.com/hardware/
Torque Free works with it but Carista will only do the fault stuff, the Customize menu brings up an error saying that the Bluetooth dongle is faulty or the vehicle is incompatible (which it obviously isn't)

 

[mike0105]

That is strange, I have a cheap dongle that is perfect with Torque and seems to work fine with the free Carista App, but have not yet tried the paid version. Funny how it works with the free bit though....

Can you open the customise menu at all? Mine allows me to see all the changes I could make, just nit save them.

 

[The_Saint]

No, it refuses to go in there, just wibbles on about faulty Blutooth or incompatible vehicle

 

[locky]

No, it refuses to go in there, just wibbles on about faulty Blutooth or incompatible vehicle

What version adaptor are you using?

 

[The_Saint]

It says "Mini ELM327 V1.5 Car Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII Scanner Android Torque Auto Scan Tool"
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261234552021

 

[locky]

Ah thats cool then, was just coz i saw somewhere the newer ones (2 or above iirc) were wiggidy-wack.

I think I want to have a go at this stuff. Anyone know of a place on the highstreet you can get these ELM327 adaptors or is it really just ebay and amazon?

 

[The_Saint]

I only saw them there, I was careful to get the V1.5 type, there was the usual anecdotal stuff about X or Y not working but for £5 or so I thought it isn't too much of a gamble.

 

[mike0105]

Mine is from eBay, can't remember which one it is though. Best get a UK shipped one to avoid waiting ages though.

 

[Rikman]

I bought a cheap bluetooth adaptor from Amazon to try the app, as I had a feeling there might be an issue with my Cupra and wanted to check for fault codes. My LG G3 connects to the adapter with no issues and the Carista app connects through it as well. I actually ended up paying for the app for the ability to change the car settings. I've turned on the beep when locking/unlocking the car with the remote, and also set the car to unlock all doors on one press of the remote. The settings work perfectly, the car beep on lock/unlock is pretty cool, impressed with how easy it was.

Also had a quick play around with the free version of the Torque app which works with the phone and adaptor as well. I'll post up a link to the adaptor i bought when I'm in front of a computer if anyone's interested.

 

[mike0105]

That sounds great, really tempted to shell out the 15 quid now!

 

[The_Saint]

I'd be interested about the exact ELM 327 adaptor

 

[Rikman]

This is the adapter I purchased. It took about a week to arrive as it was sent from China.

I'm connecting to it with an LG G3 phone running Android 5.0 Lollipop.

 

[The_Saint]

The Blue without LED looks externally identical to the one I have

 

[The_Saint]

Rikman: Just to check so I don't buy another adaptor that is the same as the one I have, of the 4 on that link, did you buy the Black or Blue with LED or the Blue or White without LED?

 

[Rikman]

Rikman: Just to check so I don't buy another adaptor that is the same as the one I have, of the 4 on that link, did you buy the Black or Blue with LED or the Blue or White without LED?

I bought the Blue with LED one, not that you can see the LEDs when it's plugged in. What device are you using to connect to the adapter? It could be that that's causing you issues maybe. Have you tried a different phone/tablet with your current adaptor?