Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

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

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

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

  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

Dig your toes into the Sand The temperature is rising and the summer is in full swing. You are getting your flip flops out and packing up for a nice day trip to the beach.🏖️You anticipate all you will need, chairs, towels, hat, sunscreen, umbrella, snacks, drinks, Sunglasses and the novel you picked up and are finally going to get to  put your nose in. You’re all gassed up and ready to hit the road. You are so excited about literally laying on the beach and frying in the hot summer sun while you hear the ocean waves🌊 crashing and the smell of salt from the ocean it is methodic. You even appreciate the sea gulls attempting to swipe your chips right out of your hand. Oh yeah, it’s summertime and you are headed to the Jersey Shore. :)   This is your perfect scenario of a day off at the beach.. Others might not appreciate your love for baking in the sun, but this is your daydream, your day trip. It’s how ever you want it to be!  The part ... read more

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE   Taking care of your car and getting routine maintenance and repairs on it is definitely like going to the doctors. In the respect that if you don’t take care of your body, it’s not going to work the way it should. Same for your vehicle.  DOCTORS FOR YOUR CAR   Choosing the right auto technician is like choosing a Dr. You want someone who is going to listen to your symptoms, make you stick out your tongue and say ahhh, notice if your blood work is where it should be, look, run test and understand what it is that you are experiencing and then, make a diagnosis and suggest a plan of action.    So, I’m taking the magician hat off for a minute and pulling out my charts and stethoscope on your vehicle and together with you, we will come up with a plan.   IT'S NO SECRET The super cool thing about your car, is that they guys who made it, gave you a little book, yup don’t believe me, look in ... read more

To Tow or Not to Tow There are always times when you come across an unexpected situation with your vehicle. Breakdowns are never fun no matter where you are and It is certainly an inconvenience. We want you to know that if that moment should arise where you are in need of a tow, we are here for you.  As you have come to expect with the service you receive at Automotive Magic we work on  the details and let you get on with your life.  maintaining We have been servicing our customers vehicles since 2003. When a repair is needed we have got you covered.   24/7 ASSISTANCE   Not only are we a AAA auto repair facility, we have a 24/7 Towing service we’ve been working with for the last seventeen years. We have partnered with JC and Daughters right here in Randolph and they are exceptional in the service that they provide.  Your process is seamless because we can dispatch their service to tow your vehicle into our shop at any time. Ther ... read more

YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE  With the stay home orders you may be feeling a little cabin fever, there have been more rainy days then sunny days the last few weeks. Being cooped up in the house can cause you to do less exercise, and therefore your muscles may feel tight. Doing some stretching and moving about is good for your body and mind. When it does come time to get out and move around in the nice weather you might feel some negative effects of being still. The same certainly applies to your vehicle. Being stationary in the driveway or garage may seem like it’s a blessing. You’re not putting on the commuter miles, you're not spending money on gas every week, you’re not due for an oil change because you haven’t gone anywhere. It seems like a good thing right? Actually, not moving your vehicle can cause some issues with it that you wouldn’t expect.    BRAKES ... read more