Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

The truth is, your car’s dashboard lights are just trying to communicate important information to keep you and your vehicle safe. Each light has a specific meaning, and knowing what they're trying to tell you could be the difference between a small issue and a costly repair. As winter draws near, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of these alerts to ensure your car is ready for the colder months ahead. Let’s break down some common dashboard symbols, so you can tell whether it’s a treatable issue—or something you shouldn’t ignore. 1. Check Engine Light –  The check engine light is the most dreaded of all dashboard symbols. When this light comes on, it can mean anything from a loose gas cap to a serious engine problem. While it might be tempting to ignore it and hope it goes away, doing so can lead to bigger issues. With winter coming, don’t risk getting stranded in the cold! Bring your car in for a checkup to ensu ... read more

Valentine's Day isn't just for showering affection on people; it's also the perfect time to show some love to your your vehicle. Just like any relationship, your car deserves attention and care to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride. This Valentine's Day, consider scheduling some love-filled attention for your beloved vehicle. Pamper with Professional Care: Show your car you care by scheduling a maintenance appointment with us at Automotive Magic or Magic Lube and Rubber. Professional care ensures your vehicle receives the attention it deserves, with skilled technicians addressing any issues and keeping it in top-notch condition.   Sweetheart Service Offers: You and your sweetie are in luck with our February Show your car a Little Love Special for the month of February. Make sure you mention you saw this on our website to get a Free Rotate and Balance with any fluid service. This service ca ... read more

Our repair of the month this July is a 2008 Subaru Outback. This car came in making some unpleasant noises from under the hood. Just from the knocking and squealing noises coming from the bottom end, we were led to believe the bearings in the bottom of the engine had failed. After some diagnostics with a stethoscope, kind of like the one your doctor uses, we were able to confirm that the main and rod bearings have “spun”. Spun is a term used to describe when engine bearings fail. This normally only happens when an engine is starved of oil, or the oil loses too much viscosity and can no longer lubricate the engine properly.   You see engine bearings are never supposed to contact each other while the engine is running. They are separated by a thin film of pressurized oil, which at the correct viscosity keeps everything running smoothly with no metal to metal contact. Oil loses viscosity over time from wear and tear, heat, combustion gasses, fuel dilution and condensati ... 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

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

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

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