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Stay Away from Elite Rotary!!!!!!! ***Now Renamed ROTARY PARTS WORLD***
I am writing this in order to warn fellow RX7 owners to stay waaaaaay away from Elite Rotary in (now) Elk Grove.
I brought my Rex to Elite Rotary n May 2020. I brought it in for a simple hunting idle issue which I knew was vacuum related and to figure out why my clutch and brake pedals were going to the floor with no pressure. Sal/Sam was very welcoming when I arrived, actually giving me a free t-shirt during my visit. I explained the issues I was having with my car (which hasn’t been out of my sight for 20 years) and he seemed to instantly know how to fix it. “Not a problem”, I’ll take care of it. He suggested that they do a vac line simplification because I didn’t need much of the rats nest any longer due to the current modifications I have made to the car as well as a removal of the air pump, replacing it with an idler pulley.
After it being in the shop for a few weeks, I received a call from Sal/Sam telling me that the car had been gone through. They found the vac leak within the rats nest and fixed the clutch/brake issue. They were going to make sure all of the vac leaks had been found and make sure there were no additional vacuum leaks and call me when they were done.
I received a call from Sam/Sal within a couple of weeks telling me that they found a leak in the main gasket between the block and the turbo manifold which required them to remove the turbos for replacement of the gasket. The next call I received from Sal/Sam involved him telling me that upon removing the turbos, that the exhaust manifold studs had broken and they had taken the motor out of the car and they would now have to drill the studs out and replace them.
Upon having the motor out of the car, I was told that the rear main seal was bad, and the motor mounts needed to be replaced. I was also told that he would have my UIM powder coated (free of charge) and that while the turbos were out, he would port the wastegate (never happened as far as I can tell).
After a couple of weeks, I got a call letting me know that the car was done. My bill was now $4500.
I got to the shop, excited to have a full functioning car back.
He told me the car was done, but that I should come back in a few weeks for a planned, Elite dyno day. He explained that because the engine had no leaks now, he was afraid I would pop the motor due to over-boosting going so far as to put a fuel cut in my PFC at 4500 RPM. I was instructed to not go into boost at all until the car had been tuned.
After paying my bill and being told that my PFC was too dated (suggesting a Haltec), I drove the car home. It died at every stop sign/light and I still had no brakes, but hey. The clutch had pressure!
I returned the next day and Sal/Sam and his team adjusted my TPS and sent me home with a 1500 RPM idle and told me he was ordering a new brake master cylinder which would be in in a couple of weeks (to fix the brake issue).
After driving the car all summer and reading the horror stories on the forum (and the dyno day never happening), I contacted a very reputable shop within driving distance and brought the car in to get looked at.
Before leaving the new shop, the shop owner insisted on a compression test in my presence. Upon removing the spark plugs we both noticed that the plugs were old and had not been changed (I paid $40 for new plugs at Elite). He also pointed out that all of the throttle cable brackets had been removed (tossed) and that the newly installed motor mounts were nothing but hockey pucks with holes drilled down the center of them with bolts running through them that stuck several inches out the bottom of the car through the subframe.
After my car being gone through meticulously, the shop owner (new shop) found the following:
1. As noted above, all throttle cable brackets removed
2. Spark plugs not changed after being charged by Elite
3. Motor mounts replaced with **** hockey-puck rubber mounts. Not polyurethane. **** rubber.
4. 2 Fuel leaks caused by incorrect fuel hose sizes and hoses not being secured properly. There was literally a puddle of fuel on the top of my transmission housing. Tell me that's not a fire hazard.
5. A nickel (yes a nickel) was used as a block off plate on the bottom of the UIM secured by RTV (Yes, believe it or not).
6. Heat shield missing from passenger (hot side) motor mount. Tossed.
7. intake pipes installed incorrectly resulting in wearing a hole into my AC tubing. Who knows what it will cost to fix.
8. Unknown/non-functioning turbo actuator being installed on car. Hence the 4500 RPM fuel cut, because the secondary turbo wouldn’t kick in. (My turbos had a perfect boost pattern prior to dropping the car off at Elite). Oh, but some in and have it tuned only to suggest more work needs to be done because something is messed up. BTW, new bolts securing the actuator to the turbos which is telltale that it was a different actuator. As a side note, the turbos and/or the motor had never been removed from the car previously. It had been unmolested. 2 owner car.. The previous owner being a HS friend of mine.
9. Oil level sensor removed from oil pan and a block off plate installed (why?)
10. Turbo to exhaust manifold nuts all loose.
11. The little miscellaneous items are not worth typing out.
Needless to say, I spent $4500 at Elite and another (at least $1500 fixing what they fucked up) at the other shop (which I would highly recommend). Please stay away from Elite Rotary. They have no business working on RX7s or any other car.
Pics coming!
PS-There is another car currently in this shop that came from Elite. $17K spent by the owner at Elite. That car is really F’d up.
PSS-The "other shop" spends a lot of time fixing what Elite screws up. Go there first.
STAY AWAY FROM ELITE ROTARY!!!!
Yet another lawsuit pending. Be ready for me Sal...Sam...whatever your name is.
Nickel Block off plate Nickel Block off plate help in with RTV Hole worn in AC line from incorrectly installing intake pipes. 1 of 2 leaking fuel lines. Incorrect sized line used and not secured. Fuel puddle on top of trans. Crap rubber motor mounts Oil Level Sensor removed and blocked off.
This is unfortunate. The progression of work is insane. A hunting idle turned into a motor pull. Idk how or why people keep going there. Typing their name into google gives you all the information you need and its VERY well documented here that they are ****. I had an experience with them myself and fortunately it was just ordering parts and not with my actual car.
Sorry to hear this but yes, sue the paint off the walls with these bastards
Dear Christ man....what an ordeal. Unfortunately we see it all the time where shops/tuners in this industry blatantly screw people over through a combination of shoddy business practices and lack of understanding WTF they're actually doing, all driven by their desire to make a profit.
This whole deal is about the worst though...it seems like they attempted a simplified sequential conversion when it wasn't necessary, then proceed to use the fact that it didn't work after to go through the rest of the car and find things they could bill you for that you'd never know the difference on (rear main seal, bad motor mounts) while also finding an excuse to rack up a ton of billable hours. THEN when its all back together and their ghetto simplified sequential didn't fix the idle AND now killed the secondary, they set a cut to prevent you from being able to find out, kicked the can down the road and sent you packing.
What total ****. People who operate like this are the reason this platform is dying.
Oddly, I've only had good experiences. I've purchased several parts from them for years and only had one issue with missing hardware from their intake system and they promptly sent what was missing.
I've never had anyone work on my car besides myself so all the screwups are my own...
There's a forum member somewhere on here that waited over a year for a turbo kit. Not sure if he ever got it, but he posted the messages and excuses from Sam/Sal. Absolutely ridiculous.
There's a forum member somewhere on here that waited over a year for a turbo kit. Not sure if he ever got it, but he posted the messages and excuses from Sam/Sal. Absolutely ridiculous.
Wow, very similar experience to me. This shop needs to go ASAP! Are you perusing them in court? I plan on perusing them in small claims. This is insane they play the same scam over and over. This is clear what they got going on. How anyone can stand behind them is a shame and stain on the rotary community.
There's a forum member somewhere on here that waited over a year for a turbo kit. Not sure if he ever got it, but he posted the messages and excuses from Sam/Sal. Absolutely ridiculous.
Wow, very similar experience to me. This shop needs to go ASAP! Are you perusing them in court? I plan on perusing them in small claims. This is insane they play the same scam over and over. This is clear what they got going on. How anyone can stand behind them is a shame and stain on the rotary community.
Yep I have been there myself with Jose Fuego. Luckily a reached out to as many rotards as I knew to warn them from this shop. Rotarys are great and the only thing not great are a few mechanics and owners. I am glad you found a good rotary shop. Stick with them and dont let anyone else touch your car. My car goes to Kilo Racing and no one else period. Lesson learned many years ago. Feel free to look at my build under 93 rx7 improving a great sportscar. There you will see all my headaches. I have been an owner since 98 so I do have some stories. Also be careful with people taking your car out for joy rides. Try not to leave your car at any shop. I dont even allow my car to be valet parked.
Yep I have been there myself with Jose Fuego. Luckily a reached out to as many rotards as I knew to warn them from this shop. Rotarys are great and the only thing not great are a few mechanics and owners. I am glad you found a good rotary shop. Stick with them and dont let anyone else touch your car. My car goes to Kilo Racing and no one else period. Lesson learned many years ago. Feel free to look at my build under 93 rx7 improving a great sportscar. There you will see all my headaches. I have been an owner since 98 so I do have some stories. Also be careful with people taking your car out for joy rides. Try not to leave your car at any shop. I dont even allow my car to be valet parked.
Right, Install a Bee*R rev limiter, and set it to 3k when you take it to a place to valet.. they try to drive somewhere and they cant go over 3k rpm, and they make gun shot noises if they try.. haha that will teach them
Right, Install a Bee*R rev limiter, and set it to 3k when you take it to a place to valet.. they try to drive somewhere and they cant go over 3k rpm, and they make gun shot noises if they try.. haha that will teach them
where do I buy one of those? Does it work with Microtech?
Looking for a good shop in the NW Suburbs of Chicago. Its actually my Father-in law's 93 automatic. Its got a bunch of long standing issues. Bad ignition switch ( I think i can do that one myself) but other more serious issues; short in radio/AC/etc.. branch that has prevented a local guy from trying tog get the AC back up (it leaks but even with a refrigerant changeover, new compressor, etc. this circuit branch will need to be fixed. Leaks oil like crazy, a guy in Rogers Park tried to (unsuccessfully) t-shoot the AC short issue and at the time quoted something like $2000 ? if i recall to fix the oil leak. And the least of the concerns (will most likely play Android Auto with a new head unit) is the motorized mast for the radio. Any tips on that part would be welcome.
Looking for a good shop in the NW Suburbs of Chicago. Its actually my Father-in law's 93 automatic. Its got a bunch of long standing issues. Bad ignition switch ( I think i can do that one myself) but other more serious issues; short in radio/AC/etc.. branch that has prevented a local guy from trying tog get the AC back up (it leaks but even with a refrigerant changeover, new compressor, etc. this circuit branch will need to be fixed. Leaks oil like crazy, a guy in Rogers Park tried to (unsuccessfully) t-shoot the AC short issue and at the time quoted something like $2000 ? if i recall to fix the oil leak. And the least of the concerns (will most likely play Android Auto with a new head unit) is the motorized mast for the radio. Any tips on that part would be welcome.
You may want to start two new threads. One in the regional forum on shops (i recommend Banzai Racing BTW) and a 2nd in the 3rd gen section on your AC problem. What you describe sounds fishy and it sounds like who ever you took it to doesn't know what they are doing and are fleecing you in the process. This should not be a rotary specific issue, other than maybe electrical, but even then (if that's even your problem), i'd think a good shop mechanic with no rotary experience could fix your issues
So Elite was in Elk Grove? Were they known as A-Spec at one time?
They are now in Schaumberg, IL; I guess..?
I lost turbo boost on my stock 94 FD and was going to take it to them...
Not sure what to do now - I getting too old and have no room to do it my self...
Any advise would be appreciated. Otherwise I guess I have to ship the car to Pettit Racing in FL (the only ones I've trusted over the years - for parts anyway)...
Last edited by Rograss Art; 03-25-21 at 10:36 PM.
Reason: Forgot some comments
A-Spec was a different shop. They just happened to be in the same area as Elite was formerly (Schaumburg). Elite moved to Elk Grove a few months ago. Please, do yourself, your wallet and your car a favor and stay away from Elite. There are plenty of people who have had a bad experience at Elite. Feel free to look up the lawsuits in Cook County that amount to $40K.
If you want a highly reputable shop in the Midwest, I highly recommend Banzai Racing in Pierceton IN and so do many others on this forum. They were able to fix everything Elite messed up and replace the parts that Elite tossed in the process of working on my car. My car has never run better since going to Chris at Banzai. The guy is extremely meticulous and knows what he is doing.
So I just registered this account just a few minutes ago so I apologize in advance if I post this in the wrong place; I'm recently new to this site but I saw this thread about Elite Rotary and was concerned/curious as I had shipped my car to them back in December 2020 for an engine rebuild. As for my experience so far I've talked to "Sal" and he seemed genuinely nice and informative of my questions, nothing that brought suspicion about. Communication, however, has been a little lacking. Originally once my car first arrived to their shop he said it would be until late January / early February when my car would be done. When that date came we had not gotten any calls so called him instead and he answered fairly quickly (they had recently moved to a new location, according to their Facebook). He now said it would be late Feb to early March. Once again no call so we called them again when the date arrived, he said they were finished with the engine rebuild and are now installing it. Fast forward to now and I just paid the rest of my deposit for the repairs and am now waiting to hear something back this coming week. I live in Kentucky and I could not find any rotary-specialist shops so I looked for the closest I could find, that being Elite. I've been looking on their Instagram for several months now and their pictures look legitimate, but after reading this thread I am now a little nervous about getting my car back.
I was fooled by their IG page as well. Sal/Sam does a good job promoting his shop on social media. Not to cause you anxiety, but I would be worried too. I brought my car there last year and after I dropped it off, I ran into a few posts about the shop. I lost sleep nightly afterward.
In hindsight, I would have taken it to Banzai which would have saved me a lot of money, because I essentially paid thousands to Elite only to spend thousands to Banzai fixing what Elite messed up. In talking to Banzai, he ends up fixing a lot of cars that Elite messed up.
When I picked my car up from Banzai, there was a another car that had recently come in from Elite. The owner had just spent $17K at Elite. It was a complete basket case.
Frankly, I would have the car looked over after you get it back. Depending on what's been done, you probably ended up with a nifty powdercoated UIM, and you're missing all of your throttle cable brackets.
So Elite was in Elk Grove? Were they known as A-Spec at one time?
They are now in Schaumberg, IL; I guess..?
I lost turbo boost on my stock 94 FD and was going to take it to them...
Not sure what to do now - I getting too old and have no room to do it my self...
Any advise would be appreciated. Otherwise I guess I have to ship the car to Pettit Racing in FL (the only ones I've trusted over the years - for parts anyway)...
For cars like mine which are stock or near OEM that need service here in Chicagoland the (former CJ Wilson) Napleton Countryside Mazda has an excellent lead mechanic who is a long standing rotary nut. He has helped resolve all the common issues on my FD. Thanks Dan.
I believe he has also won some Mazda tech awards per this thread.
https://www.rx7club.com/build-threads-292/1993-mazda-rx7-r1-complete-build-1135809/
I was a former Elite customer as well but poor communication led me to look elsewhere
02-02-21, 04:53 AM
Stay Away from Elite Rotary!!!!!!! ***Now Renamed ROTARY PARTS WORLD***
