OBD tools - options?

Hey. I have seen where many say the Carista app is great but it's insane that you have to buy a subscription. I've had other OBD tools in the past that you only had to buy the hardware for and the software was included. Is this just the new model to squeeze as much money out of you as possible or are there other vendors that have an option for control the settings that can't be touched without an OBD connection?

Specifically, I want to turn off the engine sound enhancement, seat belt chimes, and possibly the noise cancelling. Might find other things to tweak eventually but starting here. That's why I have a hard time justifying the cost right now. Who's figured this out on the cheap?

Thanks

 

you don't have to keep the subscription, any changes will stay

 

I have a BlueDriver for many years and has done everything I have needed it to do. Plug into OBD2 connection and it connects via Bluetooth to your phone and then can go out on the web and get specific data for your vehicle. I initially bought it because the $20 OBD reader I had could not read an ABS code on a Dodge Grand Caravan my wife had. The BlueDriver OBD2 was able to pull those codes.

I am curious to hear what others are using.

 

I just bought the carista, and I hate it. It says it comes with a free month trial, and it did not. It had very few options for things to change on my 2024. I was however able to turn off the seatbelt chime. I paid for a month ($15) and returned the unit to Amazon.

 

Insane?

You pay for one month at $9.99, turn off the seatbelt chime, and the fake engine noise, and perhaps adjust some other stuff, and then stop the subscription.

It would be insane for me to listen to the seat belt gong during my 200-yard drive to my mailbox.

 

good info, carista just came in.....

 

LOL. I am on the same page as you on that one. I just don't like having to buy the device and it not be usable unless I have a subscription. I'm hoping someone has found a way to jail-break the OBD connection like several did on the BMW boards for their diagnostic SW. Glad I don't have to deal with that mess any more.

I do still have the OBD to USB connector so if anyone knows of a PC-based solution, I'm all ears.

 

I bought this thing 4 years ago and it's done anything I've asked. In fact, I bought a second a few weeks ago so I could just leave one in my commuter to monitor engine temps and whatnot and leave the other in my Taco. I got Carsita for one month, made whatever adjustments I wanted, then canceled it.

Veepeak Mini Bluetooth OBD II Scanner for Android ONLY, Auto Check Engine Light Code Reader Car Diagnostic Scan Tool https://a.co/d/5BxAIMA

 

With the Google play store i signed up for 1 year with the first 30 days being free. If you cancel within the first 30 days there is no charge. That's how you get the free month as far as I know.

 

The scan tool market is so heavily geared towards shops, I can't even figure out which one to get even at the $200 range.

Gave up.

Have an old OBDLink. Whatever the cheapest one is. That worked on Android and the Carista was free for a week with a trial. Disabled the seatbelt chimes, turned off ESE, set up the fob to roll down all windows with a long press, and that was about it. Done in a few minutes.

Would be nice to find one like shops have that can trace system faults, reset ATF life, or release the electric parking brake. I'm sure that's in the $800+ range.

 

Is there an OBD tool that can interface with my 3rd gen* screen? (Like cell phone, music apps or maps that can display natively.) Would be very useful to run additional gauges on my screen.

For now I’m waiting to see if the OBDLink MX+ (iOS compatible) has a BF discount. Also considering BlueDriver.


* I know this is thread is 4th gen but no point in starting a new thread.

 

An OBD tool accesses the ECU and will not do anything to your screen or CarPlay or Android Auto.

 

I think he's looking to use a Bluetooth obd2 dongle to display info on his factory head unit via Bluetooth like many of the aftermarket units allow you to do.

 

Exactly (obviously they are different systems).

 

Coming from my Jeep many used JScan. You would buy per VIN lifetime licenses for like $15-20

I wonder if Carista would do better with that model?

 

We're in a "you own nothing, rent everything" world. Subscriptions for cars, printers, software, books, movies, music, clothing, doctors.

 

The “Car Scanner” app on my iPhone I use to talk to the BlueTooth OBDII reader has a CarPlay app. I haven’t tried it out on the Tacoma yet, but the phone app does all sorts of data logging, “dashboards” that show various sensor values as graphs or gauges, and lets you pull and manipulate codes. It showed all sorts of neat stuff on my older Subaru. I presume the CarPlay version does too. I think it was free with a paid for version that was a couple bucks to unlock more than basic functionality. Maybe try that for showing extra stuff on the screen?

 

You were able to use the Carista app with your OBD link?
If so, I'll do the same with mine.

 

I just found the OnTrack app. Looks to be the only OBD app that is CarPlay enabled? Haven’t decided yet whether to try it. The App Store reviews are mixed, lots of 1-stars, and no updates in a year.

 

I have one of these too with the obd fusion app. It was like another $20 for the codes for my 2020 and it works great.