Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

Winter brings unique challenges for your vehicle, from icy roads to freezing temperatures. Preparing your car for these conditions isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s a safety necessity. A winter vehicle check ensures your car can handle the colder months and helps you avoid unexpected breakdowns during the worst time of the year. Here’s why winter checks are essential and a handy checklist to get your vehicle winter-ready. Safety First: Proper preparation ensures your car can handle slippery roads, low visibility, and freezing conditions. Prevent Costly Repairs: Catching potential issues early saves you from expensive repairs or breakdowns later. Enhanced Performance: Your vehicle operates more efficiently when it’s winter-ready, improving fuel economy and performance. The Essential Winter Checklist Battery Check Cold weather can reduce your battery’s capacity. Ensure the ... read more

Transmission Services; Why Are They Important? When thinking of vehicle maintenance, many people know their oil needs to be changed regularly and that their tires need to be rotated. One of the systems that is often overlooked is the transmission system, the key component that transfers power from the engine and makes it usable at the wheels. So why is it important to service the transmission and keep it maintained? We know it’s important to change our engine oil often, as there are tons of moving parts that need to be lubricated to create the power that keeps us getting to work, picking up the kids, and running to the grocery store. The transmission allows your car to move at different speeds while also managing the engine's power output.  With today’s technology and engineering, many different types of transmissions have come into play in our vehicles. Most of society has moved on from the ... read more

Fall Car Care Awareness Month is upon us! As the crisp air and colorful leaves signal the approach of winter, it’s crucial to turn our attention to the care of our vehicles. It’s safe to say most Northeasterners are pretty used to the colder months and winter driving conditions, but how many of us seriously prepare our vehicles for a winter emergency? There are a few things to consider to help ensure a smooth and worry-free driving experience in the frigid months to come. Below is a list we put together including some essential items to keep in your car and important vehicle checks to consider for your convenience. Part of winter preparation should include a good checkover of the entire vehicle, but there are a few key things we recommend checking before the season starts and throughout the season. One of the most important things to check before winter comes into full swing is the condition of the tires ... read more

Vehicle Health Checks, Our Way  In today’s fast-paced world, our vehicles are more than just a means of transportation—they’re crucial to our daily lives. They enable us to commute to work, run errands, and embark on adventures. More than that, they allow us to create great memories, learn new things, and for some of us car guys and gals, just their presence brings us pride and joy. Given their importance, ensuring that your car is in good working condition is not just a matter of convenience, it is also a matter of safety and well-being. With newer cars getting more and more expensive, we understand the importance of keeping your car on the road in running and driving condition, ready to take on your next challenge with you. Regularly getting your car looked over by a professional mechanic is a key aspect of responsible vehicle ownership. At Automotive Magi ... read more

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

Have you ever been burdened with a dead battery in your vehicle? Most of us have experienced the pain of going to start our cars and getting nothing but a rapid-paced click, or nothing at all. A dead battery can happen at any time, and having the right knowledge and equipment is essential to get back on the road in an emergency. Jump-starting a car is a skill that every driver should know in case they’re ever stuck with a dead battery, so in this blog, we’ll be diving into How to Jump-start Your Car.   Why do car batteries die? Car batteries have a lifespan in which they will work as intended, typically four to seven years. After that, they’ll start to lose their ability to hold a charge. A car battery will also lose its charge if something draws power from the battery after the vehicle is turned off. This can be something as simple as leaving a light on, but can also be very intricate like a power draw fro ... read more

Embrace the last rays of summer and make the most of these precious moments. We're here to share some news as August graces us with its presence: the back-to-school excitement is officially underway. If you, or your cherished ones, are gearing up for a return to school come September, consider this a gentle nudge to have your vehicle given a thorough check. Especially if your journeys take you beyond familiar horizons, rest assured that our steadfast commitment, backed by the Napa Nationwide warranty, stands ready to address any repairs you might need. Understanding the value of your time, we've tailored a comprehensive package to assist you in ticking off those tasks on your list. When you bring your vehicle to us, rest assured, we're not simply giving it a once-over – we're conducting an in-depth inspection to ensure your car is primed for the upcoming season. Our Back to School Check encompasses: Tire rotation and balance Alignment adjustmen ... read more

Recently while being a passenger with a much younger driver it came to my attention that new drivers don’t know about the dangers of tailgating. And I’m not talking about a 17-year-old who just got their license either (the written test for those drivers might at least still be fresh in their mind) I’m referring to twenty-somethings who have been at this driving thing for some time now and should now be safe and reliable drivers. However as I held on for dear life, jammed my foot to the brake pedal that wasn’t there, made the sign of the cross while praying that this was not the end, and even closed my eyes on a few close calls, I had to speak up. I get that I’m “old” in the eyes of the company I was in, but I really felt uncomfortable being shotgun for this ride. I felt even worse for the backseat passengers. So, after yet another near miss and me holding my breath I calmly asked the driver ... read more

Do you ever find yourself having to fill up your tires with air every once and a while? You think you may have a leak, so you take it somewhere to have it checked out and what do you know, you are told that your tire is fine. But how could that be? It was obviously low and losing pressure somewhere.  Most people are unaware that tires are almost constantly losing pressure. The compound and structure that make up a tire is actually filled with tons of microscopic pores, similar to your skin. This causes the air to leak out of the tire at an extremely slow rate, even if you don’t have any puncture in the rubber. One way to battle this slow leak is with Nitrogen. Nitrogen molecules are bigger than Oxygen molecules, so they have more trouble leaking through the tiny pores.  Another benefit of using Nitrogen is that temperature does not affect it like it affects regular air.. If you live in an area where there are drastic temperature changes, you may notice that your tires ... read more

One thing that we know for certain is that tires for your car or truck are expensive. The higher quality and longer lasting they are the price naturally increases. The bummer is that we can’t drive without tires and we shouldn’t drive with tires that are in poor condition, for safety reasons alone you should always make your tires a priority no matter where you live.   Here in the northeast, we have weather conditions that cause damage to the road surfaces, and ultimately can cause damage to your tires and your car in general. Getting a routine alignment check at Magic Lube and Rubber is a service that we offer to all of our customers. When your car is in alignment it ensures that your tires are in contact with the road surface evenly and can actually extend the life of your tires.  When your vehicle is in proper alignment you can avoid premature tire wear and detect if your steering and suspension are not at their proper settings.  ... read more