How to restore your Carista EVO Scanner (firmware recovery)

If your Carista EVO Scanner has stopped responding, is shown as defective in the app, or looks like it has stopped working completely, it is most likely not actually defective.

This usually happens when a firmware update was interrupted, for example by Bluetooth interference or by the scanner disconnecting before the update finished. In most cases, you can bring the scanner back yourself in a few minutes by running a manual firmware restore in the Carista BETA app.

Before you start

• You will need the Carista BETA app (how to get it is explained below).
• Do the restore in your car, with the scanner plugged in.
• Set aside a few uninterrupted minutes and stay inside the vehicle for the whole process.

Step 1: Join the Carista beta

On Android

1. Open the beta page: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.prizmos.carista
2. Click BECOME A TESTER.
3. Make sure the Google account shown in the top right corner is the same account you are signed in with on the Google Play Store on your phone.
4. Shortly afterwards, Carista will update to the beta version through the Google Play Store, just like any other app update.

On iPhone or iPad

1. Open the beta page: https://testflight.apple.com/join/gIveBHOs
2. Follow Apple's instructions to install TestFlight (Apple's app for beta versions).
3. Install the beta version of Carista from TestFlight.

Step 2: Restore the scanner firmware

1. Plug in the scanner. Insert the Carista EVO firmly into your vehicle's OBD2 port.
2. Turn the ignition ON.
3. Open the Carista BETA app on your phone.
4. Go to the restore menu. Tap Settings, then Debug Menu, then Restore.
5. Enter the restore ID. Type 1337 and tap Restore. If a screen asks you to select a scanner, tap your EVO scanner.
6. Update the firmware. Wait for the loading screen to finish. When the EVO firmware update screen appears, tap Update scanner, then tap Start.
7. Unplug and plug back in. This step is required. Once the update reports that it completed successfully, physically pull the scanner out of the OBD2 port and plug it straight back in.
8. Restart the app. Close Carista completely and open it again. Your scanner is now restored and ready to use.

Important: do not interrupt the restore

To avoid the update failing again, please follow these rules while it is running:

• Do not unplug the scanner from the OBD2 port.
• Do not turn off your phone's screen and do not turn off Bluetooth.
• Do not walk away from the vehicle. Keep your phone inside the car and as close to the scanner as possible at all times.

If the restore does not succeed

Simply start Step 2 again from the beginning. A second attempt resolves it in most cases.

If the scanner still does not work after two attempts, please contact us at support@carista.com. Let us know which step it stops at and what the app shows on screen. We will take it from there. If you can still open the app, sending the report from More > Report a problem helps us even more, as it includes the technical details we need.