Diesel Chips / Roo Systems and more

Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2014 at 22:24
ThreadID: 108920 Views:8096 Replies:2 FollowUps:0
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For months previously, I have been pondering the thought, like all of us, what next?? When the money was finally there, I had slimmed it down to one of three choices that suited my wants/needs. Lockers, exhaust or diesel chip. Still so many decisions, so I went through a process of elimination. Lockers suited possibly only literally 2% of my overall driving, and as cool as they might me, I could not justify dollars spent vs return on investment, my logic was I got a winch for a reason, and yes, easy to drive through, however I don't mind getting out along the way. Secondly, exhaust. Something I looked at getting done locally, and after three separate local business refused to get back to my personal enquiry, a diesel chip it was.

After placing an online enquiry regarding diesel chips on a Friday evening, I was delighted to hear from them first thing Monday morning. After an insightful deluge in chip vs ECU remapping, the obvious gains/benefits from remapping became apparent, and the piggyback chip almost seemed irrelevant. Hesitant, however ready to make my move, I chose the remap option, a decision I was soon to regret.
Living so far away from the company, it involved me removing my ECU and sending it to them, bit of a no brainer exercise, two bolts, two plugs and wham bam thankyou mam...

Within a few days of sending, I receive a call stating that my ECU could not be mapped, they were unsure why, stating they had been down to component level and quite simply, 'had no idea why?'
So upon talks, they decided to send back my ECU with a piggyback chip, something I didn't like the idea of in the first place, but hey, sometimes we have to settle for second best.

I received me ECU and chip a few days later, bolt in, plug in, turn key and........ nothing. Engine cranks but will simply not fire.

After many a discussions all afternoon and evening, I'm not satisfied with the answers I'm getting from Roo Systems, so I decide to get a second opinion. RACQ comes around and informs me that my ECU is simply not being seen by anything, and through thorough investigation decide it is a faulty ECU. I then tell them what has happened, apologising for all their efforts, and to them it completely makes sense.
Now is when the blame game informally starts. Between me breaking it when taking out of vehicle, to damage in transit, to NOW being advised my ECU was putting out a high amperage when on the bench, nothing that was before mentioned.

Anyways, without verbally admitting guilt, and essentially, to keep a customer happy, they decided it was best for them to provide a replacement ECU.
Now with their initial investigations regarding the remap, they knew and clarified my make, model, drive, etc... For the purpose of information it is a Nissan Navara RX, 2007, 2.5L Manual. The only further information the required was VIN # and numbers off my current ECU. These were provided in photographic form and confirmed legible by phone call to them.

(Waiting for ECU to arrive - now in week 3 with no vehicle)
Replacement ECU arrives, had towed car to Nissan to get ECU 'coded' as directed by Roo. Day 1, 2, 3.... by now multiple phone calls back and forward. Nissan can't code due to it being an ECU from a STX Navara, and simply does not suit RX model due to immobilisers, etc...

The blame game starts again, Nissan saying it is the wrong ECU, Roo stating Nissan are doing it wrong, and, 'have no idea'. NO WORRIES - SAID NO MAN EVER!
I am over it by now, and hours turn into days... They literally have 3 options on their plate in which they are strategically picking from.
1. Provide new ECU
2. Send technician 1500km on a plane with tools and equipment to perform the task in which is 'possible' according to them.
3. Get my vehicle towed the same distance the other way to perform it down there.
Now I have a belief in why they chose option one. After them discussing call data between Nissan tech and the dealership up here, I think they know they were wrong, however will still stand by their initial belief.

They have decided to foot the bill for a new ECU, provided by Nissan this time, and essentially, 'get my vehicle back on the road'.
After 4 weeks, I will have exactly that. I still have the chip which was provided to me with the first replacement ECU, and as a matter of ethics, I will use for the meantime. This is quite obviously a reputable company in which I now hold the utmost respect for, and am still quite interested to see the gains in which they promise a chip to deliver. As a matter of ethics, 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours'.

In closing (for now) I felt a need to put this out there, for we rarely hear of a scenario like this within the forums we read and seek so much advice from.
I would admit, like many of us, majority of it is one big 'bad gossip' arena, kinda like what we would expect from a small town tea party or the like.
For scenarios to go, like this experience, from pear shaped, to ugly, to everything in between, and be rectified, I am truely grateful.

Now with an almost certain jinx on this (vehicle ready to drive by Friday, 4 days away), I hope I'm not back by next week with more ugly reports. I know for a fact that I will be back here, with glowing reports, and until then....

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Reply By: Member - Tony H (touring oz) - Tuesday, Jul 29, 2014 at 00:16

Tuesday, Jul 29, 2014 at 00:16
Hi Dave,
What a bugger.... hope this gets sorted AND quickly, please lets us know of the final outcome
Insanity doesnt run in my family.... it gallops!

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AnswerID: 536760

Reply By: Les PK Ranger - Tuesday, Jul 29, 2014 at 01:21

Tuesday, Jul 29, 2014 at 01:21
Get new ECU.
Return Roo gear and get refund.
Assume you have snorkel and exhaust . . . if so get dyno ECU tune (power, econ, or middle ground), turn off EGR, fit catch can.
AnswerID: 536761

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