Small Carista tweaks to fix the annoyances of the T6.1 California

[andyinluton]

What form would an “Undertaking notification” take exactly @WelshGas?

Its not a notification, when, and only when ACC is in operation, if the van detects you are going to undertake a vehicle to your left the van slows automatically to the same speed as the vehicle you were about to pass to prevent you undertaking.
To override it without turning off the ACC you can turn on an indicator or simply press the accelerator.

 

[WelshGas]

What form would an “Undertaking notification” take exactly @WelshGas? I am struggling to understand what this is, but interested to do so.

If I understand you correctly, you get these above 60mph, but not in slower traffic conditions. Unless you are saying you have not yet exceeded 60mph concurrent with someone overtaking you on the inside.

No idea as I’ve not undertaken anyone at more than 60 mph.

 

[WelshGas]

Its not a notification, when, and only when ACC is in operation, if the van detects you are going to undertake a vehicle to your left the van slows automatically to the same speed as the vehicle you were about to pass to prevent you undertaking.
To override it without turning off the ACC you can turn on an indicator or simply press the accelerator.

If you are undertaking the vehicle would be to your Right, wouldn’t it.

 

[andyinluton]

If you are undertaking the vehicle would be to your Right, wouldn’t it.

I got interrupted halfway through typing, I meant overtaking on the left. ( in the UK) or right ( overseas)
I don’t know where 60 mph comes from, I am no t aware of it being speed dependant.

 

[sbmcd]

Finally got to use my Carista to fix some of those little annoying things with the T6.1. Bought it 2 years ago when I got the van. But kept having to bring the van back to the dealer for warranty work and didn’t want to mess with the OBD settings until we got the van to a good place where everything was fixed and working well.

For those not familiar with OBD and the Carista:
- The Carista reader itself: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BBS73F6J?tag=vwcalifornia-21
- list of settings you can tweak: https://carista.com/en/supported-cars/vw/transporter/t6-1

Settings I’ve changed:

Ding when key is left in ignition -> off​

Finally. Stops that irritating and completely useless ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding when you’re opening or closing the pop-up roof and someone opens one of the doors.

Auto fold mirrors via -> single click​

For some incomprehensible reason, the mirrors on the T6.1 Ocean have the ability to fold automatically when you lock the door but they don’t as standard. Every time you lock the van, you have to then press and hold the locking button to get the mirrors to fold.

This setting fixes that. Mirrors now fold automatically every time the van is locked. As they should.

Scandinavian DRL: daytime running lights activate taillights and parking lights -> Yes​

For some reason, in Ireland and the U.K., daytime running lights are only at the front. Tailgate lights aren’t on by default during the day. Always found this odd as it makes it look like your lights are broken. And it’s the tailgate lights that you really want to be on all the time anyway as they make a huge difference in seeing the car in front of you in poor visibility daylight conditions.

This setting fixes that. Daytime running lights now switch on both your front and tailgate lights.

Refuel quantity in MFD -> Enabled​

This adds the “Refuel quantity” to the list of driving metrics you can choose to display on the dashboard display (see picture). Not exactly an essential feature but still useful for those pumps that require pre-payment. Quantity is displayed in 5L increment. Bit odd that this feature is there but hidden by default.

Auto-unlock doors when shifting into park (P) -> Yes​

Still on the fence on this one. By default, your doors remain locked until you remove the key from the ignition. Which is annoying when you stop for a few seconds to pickup someone from the side of the road. Always ends up being a kerfuffle where the person you’re picking up tries several times and fails to open the (still locked) door, you don’t really know why it’s not working, then remember that the doors are still locked, panic-look for the unlock button, find it, unlock the doors then try to gesture to the person outside (who has given up by now) that they should try again and it that should work.

This fixes this. As soon as you put the van in P, the doors unlock. But it means that when you put the van in P when waiting at a traffic light or stuck in traffic, the doors also unlock. Which is loud and annoying. So not sure. I might revert that one.

What I couldn’t fix
I couldn’t change the minimum speed at which the auto-headlights activate. Other cars let you configure this but not the T6.1 Transporter it seems - the option is not there.

That’s really annoying. Auto-headlights only activate when you drive at 60km/h or more. Which makes it fairly useless on small winding country-side roads, unless you drive like a complete madman. I’ve no idea why this limit is there. Really wish I could lower it to 20km/h.

View attachment 131274

I've ordered one

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I have rented T6.1's in the past and from memory it applies some braking force if it detects you are 'undertaking'.

Thank you, @wildslammer22, I had assumed wrongly that this 'undertaking' or 'inside lane overtaking' referred to a warning that another road was a threat by trying to pass you on the wrong side (an irritating situation), almost an extension of the wing mirror yellow warning lights; but in hindsight it is obvious that the relevant posts above relate to when you as driver to pass someone for example as you enter slip road. Feel a bit stupid now.

 

[wildslammer22]

Thank you, @wildslammer22, I had assumed wrongly that this 'undertaking' or 'inside lane overtaking' referred to a warning that another road was a threat by trying to pass you on the wrong side (an irritating situation), almost an extension of the wing mirror yellow warning lights; but in hindsight it is obvious that the relevant posts above relate to when you as driver to pass someone for example as you enter slip road. Feel a bit stupid now.

Yes that’s my understanding of it. Coming off a ferry early morning on to an empty motorway it’s was annoying if you wanted to stick in the empty inside lane and pass the middle lane hogs doodling along in lanes 2 & 3 at 50-60mph. Forces you to go out and around which TBF is what you should do! I always find it a bit of a shock when returning from France where the drivers are almost pathological about lane discipline to see how poor it is in Blighty…

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Its not a notification, when, and only when ACC is in operation, if the van detects you are going to undertake a vehicle to your left the van slows automatically to the same speed as the vehicle you were about to pass to prevent you undertaking.
To override it without turning off the ACC you can turn on an indicator or simply press the accelerator.

Thank you @andyinluton, I will check out 'undertaking' and try both your indicator and accelerator fix when appropriate. Presumably the car will work out if it is in a LHD or RHD location?

Because I have always avoided undertaking, having had that drummed into me by my driving instructor many years ago, this issue had to date passed me by.

 

[WelshGas]

I got interrupted halfway through typing, I meant overtaking on the left. ( in the UK) or right ( overseas)
I don’t know where 60 mph comes from, I am no t aware of it being speed dependant.

I've undertaken on the inside lane that is a dedicated lane to Services at 60mph passing traffic in middle lane which was carrying on. On ACC and no warning at that speed. SatNav didn't know I was going to Services. I just mentioned the speed I was going.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

You may have saved my sanity (and marriage), with this gem of a post.

The deactivating of the keys in ignition alarm might be the best early Christmas present I have ever received.

 

[wildslammer22]

I've undertaken on the inside lane that is a dedicated lane to Services at 60mph passing traffic in middle lane which was carrying on. On ACC and no warning at that speed. SatNav didn't know I was going to Services. I just mentioned the speed I was going.

Is that in your old T5 or the new multi-van? It’s not an option on the T6 so assume it wouldn’t have been on the T5 either? If the latter maybe the newer system is more 'intelligent'.

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

Just to let you all know, in case it passes you by, Carista v8.8.2 has just been released, with (quote)
Exciting new settings for various VWGroup cars:
features like the seat belt warning, start screen logo, and more.

 

[acer]

I sometimes find the ‘take a break’ alarm annoying and at other times ‘alarming’! I thought that this would be top of the list for this Carista thread. That it hasn’t been mentioned suggests to me that I might need to read the manual and disable it more straightforwardly?

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Has anyone used an alternative to a Carista? One of my car chums recommended a Veepeak

 

[WelshGas]

Is that in your old T5 or the new multi-van? It’s not an option on the T6 so assume it wouldn’t have been on the T5 either? If the latter maybe the newer system is more 'intelligent'.

Multivan. Basis for the new California.

 

[wildslammer22]

Multivan. Basis for the new California.

Still enjoying now you’ve lived with it for a bit? I’m sure it’s a much more car like drive.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I sometimes find the ‘take a break’ alarm annoying and at other times ‘alarming’! I thought that this would be top of the list for this Carista thread. That it hasn’t been mentioned suggests to me that I might need to read the manual and disable it more straightforwardly?

You can disable that in the Infotainment unit menu

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thank you @andyinluton, I will check out 'undertaking' and try both your indicator and accelerator fix when appropriate. Presumably the car will work out if it is in a LHD or RHD location?

Because I have always avoided undertaking, having had that drummed into me by my driving instructor many years ago, this issue had to date passed me by.

The ‘undertaking’ parts of this string been has got me thinking. I had noticed that when overtaking abroad correctly (ie on the LH side) in ACC my brakes occasionally snatch and I thought this was just auto-advice to keep more distance (though I do not tailgate).

I have more recently abroad in ACC, almost intuitively, started to indicate as I approach vehicles I am passing (to give a visual warning of my approach). Possibly I have also tapped the accelerator too. In other words I think I subconsciously must use the @andyinluton tips.

Whilst the van used to ‘snatch’ quite often i think it does it almost never now. Though I will experiment further.

But this above would only be a correct assumption if ‘undertaking ‘prevention’ on my van is set up for driving on the left, which would seem an oversight.

 

[WelshGas]

Still enjoying now you’ve lived with it for a bit? I’m sure it’s a much more car like drive.

Very much so. Acceleration is very good as it uses the EV. Change between EV-IC-EV is seamless. You wouldn't know which is driving the vehicle if it wasn't for the Dashboard indicators. The drive on my 4Motion was good but this is very very good.
On my long trip to the Fens , 486 miles return. No charging en-route got 56.7mpg.

 

[Cali-donia]

Has anyone managed to add any of the Amarok off-road features to their California using Carista?

 

[myvanrodney]

Thanks for the post. ... I bought my Carista in October to disable to key bong (very embarrassing when raising the roof). Just switched it off, great, but now feel a little screwed over...

I know I shouldn't, but I worked it out - to disable that annoyance just cost me £75!

 

[andyinluton]

The ‘undertaking’ parts of this string been has got me thinking. I had noticed that when overtaking abroad correctly (ie on the LH side) in ACC my brakes occasionally snatch and I thought this was just auto-advice to keep more distance (though I do not tailgate).

I have more recently abroad in ACC, almost intuitively, started to indicate as I approach vehicles I am passing (to give a visual warning of my approach). Possibly I have also tapped the accelerator too. In other words I think I subconsciously must use the @andyinluton tips.

Whilst the van used to ‘snatch’ quite often i think it does it almost never now. Though I will experiment further.

But this above would only be a correct assumption if ‘undertaking ‘prevention’ on my van is set up for driving on the left, which would seem an oversight.

It usually takes a mile or two abroad but after that it automatically knows that you are abroad & lets you overtake that side.

ACC doesn't seem to snatch the brakes when you are undertaking, its more a lift off of the accelerator.

Side wind assist seems to snatch at the brakes on a windy day & temps to do it as you poke the nose of the van past the front of a lorry if there's a side wind that the lorry is sheltering you from.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

It usually takes a mile or two abroad but after that it automatically knows that you are abroad & lets you overtake that side.

ACC doesn't seem to snatch the brakes when you are undertaking, its more a lift off of the accelerator.

Side wind assist seems to snatch at the brakes on a windy day & temps to do it as you poke the nose of the van past the front of a lorry if there's a side wind that the lorry is sheltering you from.

That is helpful, thank you @andyinluton, I will use this knowledge to further my driving experience.

I agree, now you say it, that it is more a lift off of the accelerator that I had experienced on undertaking (or sometimes overtaking abroad). I will also be looking out for a 'side wind snatch', which I do not recall.

 

[Mehdime]

Thanks for the post. ... I bought my Carista in October to disable to key bong (very embarrassing when raising the roof). Just switched it off, great, but now feel a little screwed over...

I know I shouldn't, but I worked it out - to disable that annoyance just cost me £75!

It sure is annoying that VW doesn’t make these settings available through the main settings menu.

At the moment it’s £29 for the reader and £15 for a 1-month subscription I believe? So £44 altogether. And the reader remains useful afterwards for diagnosing engine warning lights and save a trip to the deale (no subscription required for this - it’s « free »).

That being said that are other OBD readers that will be cheaper. They just require spending more time researching and may be riskier as not as widely used. The benefit of the Carista is that it’s simple-stupid, battle-tested and there’s plenty of help out there for it (not that you’ll need it).

 

[wildslammer22]

Has anyone managed to add any of the Amarok off-road features to their California using Carista?

What features might these be? On my T6 I can adjust the speed on which the hill descent disengages (if you have it) and I recall seeing something on the haldex but can’t recall what that was. I’ll check and report back.