Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

Now that the cold weather is upon us you may notice that there is a chirping sound coming from your car's engine. This is probably not Tweety Bird flying around under your hood! It’s most likely your serpentine belt. read more...   The serpentine belt on most vehicles is a single belt that is used for driving multiple devices on your engine such as the alternator, power steering pump, water pump and air conditioning compressor and that is why is essential that the serpentine belt, belt tensioner and pulleys are in proper working order. When the rubber from the belt gets cold and the elements have caused some negative effects on it, it’s a sign that it’s probably time to replace it. Along with the serpentine belt, the belt tension ... read more

Now that the colder temperatures have started you may have taken notice that when you turn on your vehicle and crank the heat to warm up for your morning commute you may experience a mildew or musty smell. Most cars have something called a cabin air filter that is used to filter the air through the temperature control system. You may not have used your controls much since the heat of the summer and running your air conditioner to keep cool.    When the air conditioning system is running it pulls the moisture out of the cabin of your vehicle and releases moisture out  through the bottom of the car. Some moisture does end up getting trapped in the condenser box and filter, then becomes moldy, ultimately bacteria will grow and cause unpleasant odors.  It is good practice to change out that filter where moisture builds up frequently. As an added benefit, we offer a service where we can disinfect the inside of the air box, replace the cabin air filter and remove those ... read more

It’s wiper blade season. Time to get prepared for the inclimate weather that is approaching. With the cold weather upon us we tend to try to rush getting into our vehicles and get out of the cold.  When you fail to let the vehicle warm up properly you can experience the wiper blades sticking to the windshield. Some will use the wipers to remove the dirt or even use the snow from the ground to clean the windshield for better visibility. This can cause damage to the wipers, make them wear out prematurely or even damage the arms and the motor. It’s recommended to prepare with a set of winter wiper blades. Winter Blades are intended to do a heavier removal of ice and snow and have a smooth surface to eliminate the accumulation of  snow and ice and get better contact with the glass.  Snow and icy weather limits visibility, if your wipers aren’t doing their intended job, it can build up and further diminish your sight, making driving even more difficult an ... read more

What's That Noise Coming From You Brakes It seems as though a lot of people that were staying at home during the Covid 19 pandemic have noticed some brake noises that started to show up after their vehicles sat without being driven for some time.  How Having a Brake Inspection Service Can Benefit Your Vehicle In some cases the noises sound a lot worse than they actually are. From sitting a build up of rust can build up on the rotors. It is always best to error on the side of caution and schedule a routine check up by your automotive technician. Our technicians can diagnose the cause by disassembling the brakes so they can get an in depth understanding of where the noise is coming from and how the problem can be fixed. In some cases, all that may be needed is some lubrication. This can be effective in removing some of the rust that is causing the noises.     Diagnosis and Repairs Your ve ... read more

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN CHOOSING CONVENTIONAL OR SYNTHETIC OIL Going to get  your oil changed, something you need to take care of for the well being of your vehicle. You might be stringent about getting it done on schedule and keep precise records, for this we applaud you. You might be thankful that most places that complete your oil change are nice enough to slap a sticker in the corner of your windshield and go by that. You get an atta boy and a pat on the back for that. You might wait until the oil maintenance comes on your dash, a little scream that says, ut oh, you are due. If you take action and schedule your oil change then, you are probably still in good graces with your car. These are ways that you protect your investment with the hope that you are taking the best care of your vehicle. In turn it will deliver years of faithful start ups, extra miles that you pray for and keep providing the reliability and comfort that you are hoping for.   SCHEDULE OIL ... read more

My engine never overheats. Why should I get a cooling system service ?Automotive Magic Answer:There have been times when our customer's have questioned the need or a cooling system service for their vehicle. They don't quite see that there's a need, especially when they have never had a situation with their engine overheating. Well, that's a great question, and if you don't know the complete answer you may end up in a bit of trouble. It would seem that if our engine is running at the proper temperature that it must be fine.But the fact is that engine overheating is the most common cause of mechanical failure for drivers. So how do you get from everything is just fine to suddenly overheating and potential engine damage? ... read more

What to do? There are so many deals going on right now for new vehicles it’s pretty tempting to go ahead and make the plunge into buying a new vehicle.           The cash for clunkers offer seems to have reinvented itself in our area. Trying to convince those of us driving older vehicles to get them off the road and put the new ones on it.  Getting some cash in your pocket in return for them removing what seems to be a headache now may seem like a win/win situation.       Buying New Committing yourself to nearly a decade of payments for a new vehicle could be an option you are willing to make. There can be an uncomfortable amount of stress tied to either of these options. Getting some professional guidance along your journey might take some of the weight off of your shoulders. There are a lot of things to consider when you are making these decisions. The new car smell of the interior, the shiny new paint job. It&rsq ... read more

  WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR  YOUR SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR VEHICLE? So you were most likely taught to look both ways before you cross the road. Tie your shoes so you don’t trip. Your parents instilled in you the importance of safety, and warned you of the dangers that might fall upon you if you didn’t take precautions. VEHICLE SAFETY So here we are in 2020 relearning to wash our hands, cover our mouths and keep our distance. These are all steps to keep ourselves safe and they all seem a little deja vu-ish if you ask most people (mama told you so.) In New Jersey the state used to require safety regulations to enforce Mama’s fine and early teachings. They were imperative for you to be able to pass NJ state inspections.   If your vehicle fell short of the requirements they slapped a big red rejection sticker in your windshield..  Ever present are long lines as the ... read more

Where the rubber meets the road   For our customers, our family and our friends.  Your safety and your families safety is always our first and foremost priority.  Auto repairs can be inconvenient and costly and not always the top of your list of Have to’s - The safety portion well yes, they fall into the inconvenient and costly category, but it is absolutely our priority. Your well being is riding on it.  Yes, there is maintenance upkeep and investments in the long term care of your car, but the safety stuff, there’s no price that should be put on that.  So, as an absolute must, top of the list, no fooling around here are the basics:   Tires And Brakes Absolutely the top two, We can’t even say one is more important than the other.  Because if you have good tires and the brakes are shot.. Whamo! Bad news, and if your brakes are in excellent condition and your tires are bald.. Bad, just bad!    Tire ... read more

KEEPING YOU SAFE INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE   We are all doing our part to help prevent the spread of Covid 19. Wearing masks, gloves, sanitizing and washing our hands until they are raw.  SANITIZING AND DISINFECTANT For many of us our vehicles are our homes outside our homes. Taking care to wipe down the steering wheel and all vehicle controls is an important part of protecting ourselves as well as others. Yet when we get inside, we tend to unmask, breathe a sigh of relief that the outside world we just encountered is not close enough to harm us. What you might not be thinking about is the amount of bacteria and germs that are circulating inside your vehicles closed doors. Automotive Magic has partnered with BG Products to take sanitizing your vehicle to a whole new level. ... read more