Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

We can definitely say that we had what many consider a “real” winter this year with the cold weather, snow, and ice.  One of the impacts of multiple snowstorms is that the potholes in the roads that are created by the ground freezing and thawing, salt and brine solutions being applied to the road service, and the plows that move the snow off of the roads keeping a safe driving environment.    Now is a great time to have your vehicle’s suspension looked over. The suspension components that can be affected by these harsh winter roads are the vehicle’s shocks, struts, ball joints, and steering components. This winter driving could have also affected your vehicle’s wheel alignment and as simple as losing a weight that keeps your tires balanced. At Automotive Magic we have the equip ... read more

Vehicle manufacturers spend a lot of money and time on ensuring their vehicles that are properly maintained will last for many thousands of miles, these manufacturers hire top level engineers that understand vehicle fluids and how long these fluids will last under different conditions.  One of several fluids that are used in today's trucks and  sport utility vehicles is differential gear oil. Every manufacturer has a recommended service interval for each differential gear oil for normal driving and severe driving. Anyone that tows any type of trailer(boat, travel trailer, landscaping trailer, etc.) or that uses their vehicle for snow plowing will need to follow the severe service  interval.  These vehicles that tow and plow, or even used off-road, work the vehicle’s differential hard and create a lot of heat which lessens the life of the differential gear oil ... read more

This year Automotive Magic is happy to be a sponsor of the Roxbury Township Town Planner. We’ve been servicing Kenvil, Roxbury and the surrounding areas with superior automotive repair and maintenance since 2003. Make sure that you check out their site for savings and coupons throughout our area. Now and throughout the the month of March, 2021. You can save up to $40 on your brake service at Automotive Magic. Click here for site link and subscribe to their weekly newsletter for up to date news and events that are happening here in our community.     Schedule you Brake Assessment Now    

Over Filling Your Gas TankYour vehicle is an essential part of your lifestyle. Making sure that you have fuel in your vehicle is not such a difficult subject to address. You know that you need gas to run your car, oil to lubricate your engine, and routinemaintenance to ensure that it performs at it’s best and will get you from point A to point B.   What you might not be aware of is that something that seems as innocent as over filling your fuel tank can actually cause more harm than good. It’s tempting whenyou are at the pump to round the meter to the next round dollar amount, particularly if you are paying with cash. Gas station attendants will sometimes try to do the same, avoiding having to give coins as change. Once the sensor clicks, they might go for just .40 more to make ... read more

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