Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

Brakes are fundamental to vehicle safety. They enable you to control your car's speed and stop when necessary, preventing accidents and ensuring safe driving conditions. Without properly functioning brakes, your vehicle's control is severely compromised, posing significant safety risks. Regular inspections and maintenance of your brake system are crucial for ensuring that your vehicle operates safely and efficiently. Signs That Your Brakes Need Attention Several indicators can suggest that your brakes need professional attention: Noise: Squealing or grinding noises when applying brakes often indicate that your brake pads or shoes are worn out and need replacement. Vibration: If you feel vibrations or pulsations in your steering wheel when braking, it might signal warped rotors that need to be checked. Soft or Spongy Brake Pedal: This could indicate air in the brake lines or an issue with the brake fluid, bot ... read more

After a snowstorm, it sure is pretty in New Jersey, but there’s always work to do as a result. Shoveling the driveways and sidewalks isn’t the most fun, and then the chore of digging your car out. Let's all take a little extra time here to be responsible and respectful drivers. A few extra minutes spent clearing off your car can prevent accidents, protect property, and ensure a safer winter commute for everyone. So, before you hit the road, ensure your vehicle is not just winter-ready but also considerate to your fellow travelers. It's the law, and more importantly, the right thing to do. In NJ, failing to remove snow and ice from your vehicle can result in fines ranging from $25 to $75 for each offense. What's more, these fines apply whether or not the dislodgedice and snow hit the road. It's a small price to pay for the safety of fellow drivers. However, the consequences escalate if flying ice or snow causes damage or injury to others. Motorists can face ... read more

Heidi joined our team in 2020 as our Marketing Manager and Creative Director. “What doesn’t Heidi do with us?” is a way easier question to answer. She works with the team building rapport between us and our clients, managing the marketing and social media, is the editor of the Magic Hour monthly newsletter, coordinating our special events, video production and all our photography. At the birth of Magic Lube and Rubber, Heidi put to use her passion for design and decor to help the vision of MLR come to life, and we all love her for her creation! She comes with a background in sales, automotive marketing, advertising, and photography.  With Heidi’s arrival the Magic Hour newsletter began!  A Jersey Girl through and through, Heidi is a native resident of Sussex County, She got her degree in photography from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. Previously, she owned and operated Images by Heidi and spent many years as a sales and marketing executive for ... read more

Petro "Pete" Chang is a graduate of Wyotech and specialized in automotive and light-duty diesel. He has over 13 years of experience in the automotive field. He brings with him first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of the auto repair industry and has played a key part in the business aspects. There isn't too much Pete doesn't know about how to get things done around the shop and he is enthusiastic about each challenge that is put in front of him.   Not only is he experienced with vehicles, but he is also very in tune with customer relations and cares for both the client and their vehicles, always setting the bar at the highest level.    We are excited to have Pete and his many talents on our team and we know that our clients will benefit from his passion for everything automotive.    Pete is an avid outdoorsman. On his time off, he enjoys being out in the woods, bow hunting, out on the water with his rod and reel, o ... read more

2017 Ford Fusion with multiple different electronic issues, from lights and dashboard not working, radio acting weird, and many little random glitches that don't add up. Our technician was able to diagnose the issue and deemed it to be CAN bus-related. These issues are normally very difficult to diagnose or even impossible for some without proper training and experience.     These days, all modern vehicles, from conventional combustion-powered cars to the latest EVs, feature a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. It's the electronic communication system that lets everything  be able to talk to each other including the engine, transmission, body control, and even brakes. It works the same way a computer communicates with its own parts, with 0's and 1's. Literally, multiple pulses or pauses  of electricity (0110101001) just like Morse code. Computers are ab ... read more

There are so many resources out there today that can send you in multiple directions. One thing that we know for certain is that word of mouth and referrals have always been our most valued resource. When we are looking for a reliable and trustworthy source, we look to friends and family first, then yes, we might Google, but we always want the recommendation of someone we know and trust to guide us to the right person or business. We are always appreciative of referrals from our clients, it makes us proud to know that we’re doing the right thing for our customers, so much so that they are willing to recommend us. That’s just the highest level of compliment that we can receive. We here at Automotive Magic and Magic Lube and Rubber are very focused on referrals. Shawn is the president of the Roxbury, BNI (Business Network International) group, and a critical part of it for over a decade. He knows that the referrals and recommendations of people that have found connections ... read more

Did you know that your vehicle is not a crock pot? Yes, of course you did! Your vehicle is not a set-it-and-forget-it kind of thing. This blog's topic for the Automotive Magic and Magic Lube and Rubber is the importance of routine oil changes. When you talk to anyone at Automotive Magic and Magic Lube and Rubber, we will unequivocally preach the good word of routine oil changes! “Why do we want routine oil changes?”, you may be asking. “They are just trying to get more money from me, it’s a racket in the auto industry,” you may be thinking. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.  When you change oil at the recommended intervals, with oil that meets or exceeds the manufacturer's specifications, you will extend the life of the engine and increase its efficiency. Right after an oil change is the closest you will get to the brand-new, right-off-the-lot feel of driving. Your engine has full power as the oil lubricates all the moving parts ... read more

Ben Sisto has joined us as Service Consultant. His love for everything automotive goes back to when his hands just got big enough to hold a wrench. He’s been twisting one and fixing things his whole life.  He’s always been intrigued by the inner workings of all things mechanical.  His ten years of experience as an auto parts specialist brings him to us with an abundance of knowledge, not only can he diagnose automotive problems, he has the capability to source the best quality parts for just about any vehicle, and he knows his way around under the hood.   He’s a certified electronic technician which again, speaks to his attention to detail and organization. Originally from Nutley, He now resides in Wantage, NJ with his wife Amy and his three children Olivia(10), Benjamin(6), and Vinny (3). He’s been flying airplanes since the age of 15 and loves the great outdoors, particularly snowboarding. He also loves playing with his kids and remo ... read more

Introducing Brendan O'Connell as our newest Automotive Technician. He's a graduate of the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Automotive Program.  He brings to us over seven years of knowledge specializing in exhaust repairs and custom exhaust builds. He is dedicated to continuing his automotive education, always something new to learn and ways to better yourself. Originally from Hillsboro, he and his girlfriend Priscilla reside in Oak Ridge. They enjoy hiking and being in nature. They can always be spotted on hiking trails with their rescue dog Charlie, leading the way. He has a passion for high-quality audio and that is apparent in his eclectic collection of vinyl records.  

In the winter of 2021 Automotive magic will begin a new apprenticeship program. This program combines online learning through the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) training center, Automotive Training Institute (ATI) and on the job learning at Automotive Magic.  Getting paid while learning at the same time is just one of the advantages of this program. This 18 to 24 month program has nine stages and occurs at no expense to the student. As the student progresses through the program at Automotive Magic, the student receives additional compensation as an incentive to progress from one stage to the next.      Automotive Magic’s apprentices will get tools needed to work in the trade in addition to getting paid. When the apprentice graduates from the program, they get to keep the provided tool kit that is required for any mechanic. This program is certified by the US Department of Labor and the graduate will receive a diploma-like certificate acknowled ... read more