Rocketchip still in business?

Firedog9345 · Jan 4, 2009

Any one know if Rocketchip is still in business? I checked their web site and it hasn't been updated since 2005. I'll looking to chip my 97 B4.

ymz · Jan 4, 2009

Absolutely!!!! Jeff is very, very busy and I believe that updating the website is pretty far down his list of things to do...

If you happen to be free this coming Saturday, there's a get-together at Peter & Julie's place in East Hamstead, NH... Jeff will be there...

All the best,

Yuri.

tomo366 · Jan 4, 2009

Pretty silly question.........Did you use the search at all??

danix · Jan 4, 2009

Not that silly, most people would want to drum up more business with their site. Jeff seems to shy away from it

Definitely go up there, and tell Jeff I need a set for a B4 as well! Hmm, maybe I should ship Peter and Julie my spare ECU...

Lug_Nut · Jan 5, 2009

Jeff hasn't replied to multiple e-mails I've sent starting from back in November. He's scheduled to be at a GTG near to me so I'll have to buttonhole him then in person.

Firedog9345 · Jan 5, 2009

Yes, I did a search that is why I started this post! Anyway, unfortunately I will have to work next Saturday. Are GTG the only way to get a Rocketchip these days? I emailed Jeff, with no reply so I'll ask you guys: Do you have to send the ECU to Jeff or can I just take out the existing chip and replace with new one. THanks again, Happy New Year!

danix · Jan 5, 2009

The Passat should be socketed but you might want to just send him the ECU.
Another option is driving to him in PA if you have the time.

tomo366 · Jan 5, 2009

Most 97 Passat TDI ECU's are Socketed and it takes about 10 minutes to replace the Chips
Did you try Iming him sometimes that works.......

rdkern · Jan 5, 2009

tomo366 said:
Most 97 Passat TDI ECU's are Socketed .......

But some aren't. Look inside your's to see if it is. If you don't see two sockets with chips in them, then you are one of those that have soldered chips.

darkscout · Jan 5, 2009

Do the B4s take the same chips as the A3s? I have an RC2 that I'm looking to sell. (No I'm not unhappy, just upgraded to an RC2/3

).

Didn't the B4s have an ECM change over?

EGR deleted. RC2. Takes 10 minutes to change, 20 with the beer.
-
"There was once a Tuner so popular no one ever went to him" has a bit of truth. Jeff's a busy man. Your best bet is to look for a GTG that Jeff comes to.

Firedog9345 · Jan 5, 2009

Well I checked out my ECU today to see if it was socketed or not. I see the 2 chips in the lower left hand corner. It doen't look like they are soldered. Do you need a special tool to remove them? Jeff did email me today so I'm trying to find out if I have to mail him the ECU or not.

darkscout · Jan 5, 2009

Firedog9345 said:
Well I checked out my ECU today to see if it was socketed or not. I see the 2 chips in the lower left hand corner. It doen't look like they are soldered. Do you need a special tool to remove them? Jeff did email me today so I'm trying to find out if I have to mail him the ECU or not.

They shouldn't be soldered. You can get them out with a small screwdriver or a chip puller.

paramedick · Jan 5, 2009

Straightened paper clip also works well. Just alternately lift a tiny bit at opposing corners until it lifts free.

rdkern · Jan 5, 2009

Just be very careful in removing the chips - cracking the holder will cause all sorts of grief.

mrchaotica · Jan 5, 2009

What I don't understand is why Jeff doesn't get a secretary or something. Sheesh!

I have a couple questions I'd like to ask him about my ECU/tune, but I haven't even bothered to try because I know it's futile.

darkscout · Jan 5, 2009

mrchaotica said:
What I don't understand is why Jeff doesn't get a secretary or something. Sheesh!

If I had enough business to keep me busy and enough money to pay for all my toys and set my own clock and schedule, I don't see why I'd want to pay someone else to try and increase business by a marginal amount.

Say you make $1000 a week. If you hire a secretary you have to be sure than $$Salary<$$new income.

rdkern · Jan 6, 2009

darkscout said:
If I had enough business to keep me busy and enough money to pay for all my toys and set my own clock and schedule, I don't see why I'd want to pay someone else to try and increase business by a marginal amount.

Say you make $1000 a week. If you hire a secretary you have to be sure than $$Salary<$$new income.

I have a business, and once had employees. It's not just the increased cost, it's also the increased time required to manage even one employee (got to have payroll deposits/forms on time, need to make sure OSHA is happy, etc etc). Not worth it unless there's a large increase in business available due to the hire, and generally the business would then start owning the "owner".

Lug_Nut · Jan 6, 2009

darkscout said:
Do the B4s take the same chips as the A3s?

The 96 B4, (BK, or GQ), No.
The 97 B4, (FA) maybe the same as the 97 A3 (ED), maybe not.
I've heard that the 98+ A3 (JB) can be substituted for the ED, but again, the cross-species intermix is unknown.

VeeDubTDI · Jan 6, 2009

No need to update the website when you have more work than you know what to do with.

aja8888 · Jan 6, 2009

darkscout said:
If I had enough business to keep me busy and enough money to pay for all my toys and set my own clock and schedule, I don't see why I'd want to pay someone else to try and increase business by a marginal amount.

Say you make $1000 a week. If you hire a secretary you have to be sure than $$Salary<$$new income.

I have had my own engineering consulting business for over 10 years. I work alone ( I also have a contract professional at times) and service business and industrial clients all over the U.S. I can't and don't want to, miss a customer call so I have an answering service that takes my calls and forwards me text of the messages. I can't believe how much business that service has gotten me, let alone provided me with the ability to respond to customers on a very timely basis. The cost is $250/month (no employees) and is a business deduction.

If you are in business today and don't provide top notch customer service (and that includes responding to calls and e-mails) the chances are you will be out of business (or won't be able to grow your business) in short time.

ymz · Jan 6, 2009

mrchaotica said:
I have a couple questions I'd like to ask him about my ECU/tune, but I haven't even bothered to try because I know it's futile.

If you had Jeff tune your car, then you should have his cell number... I believe he replies to existing customers promptly...

Yuri.

fastasaturtle · Jan 6, 2009

He just did mine yesterday, boy I guess I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.=D
He and Oliver took very good care of me and I'm extremely pleased with the result. I had the Rocketchip mod done in conjunction with a Sprint 520 nozzle upgrade.
I had the auto tranny swapped out with a 5 speed a few weeks ago and with all of the afore mentioned mods combined, my car is now awesome (purely in my humble opinion)! I cannot even begin to describe the contrast between the before (stock w/ auto tranny) and after. If you're listening, thanks a million guys! (Jimmy, Oliver, and Jeff)

tdidieselbobny · Jan 6, 2009

I **think** he has a regular full time job and does chipping in his free time.....

tomo366 · Jan 6, 2009

tdidieselbobny said:
I **think** he has a regular full time job and does chipping in his free time.....

Wrong........
Jeff gave up his regular job several years ago.......

VeeDubTDI · Jan 6, 2009

fastasaturtle said:
He just did mine yesterday, boy I guess I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.=D
He and Oliver took very good care of me and I'm extremely pleased with the result. I had the Rocketchip mod done in conjunction with a Sprint 520 nozzle upgrade.
I had the auto tranny swapped out with a 5 speed a few weeks ago and with all of the afore mentioned mods combined, my car is now awesome (purely in my humble opinion)! I cannot even begin to describe the contrast between the before (stock w/ auto tranny) and after. If you're listening, thanks a million guys! (Jimmy, Oliver, and Jeff)

Awesome! Sounds like you have your car just the way you want it... for now.

The mod bug bites hard!

mrchaotica · Jan 7, 2009

ymz said:
If you had Jeff tune your car, then you should have his cell number... I believe he replies to existing customers promptly...

Oh, I assumed the number he gave me was a regular public one.

VeeDubTDI · Jan 7, 2009

Never assume that someone's number is public unless they specifically say so.

jck66 · Jan 7, 2009

FWIW, related to the A3/B4 question, the chips are absolutely not interchangeable. At least, according to Upsolute they aren't. Or weren't. But I wouldn't put it past someone to figure out how to make it work.

fastasaturtle · Jan 7, 2009

VeeDubTDI said:
Awesome! Sounds like you have your car just the way you want it... for now. The mod bug bites hard!

Yes it does. I thought I could resist, but alas the flesh was weak. Thanks for the encouraging words too.

michTDI · Jan 7, 2009

Thats great that he has so much business-but to have a website/email address that is rarely updated/responded to is just poor.........How is someone supposed to track him down that doesn't know about Fred's or already have his phone number........if I do a search on the internet-and get a web address then send an email with no response........I move on as do most people.......

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