Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

Recently, Brendan, One of the many skilled technicians at the Automotive Magic evaluated a Transit 150 with transmission problems for a commercial business owner. The vehicle had inconsistent transmission issues where the transmission would randomly start to buck and fall out of gear, or hard shift.  After some diagnostics, Brendan identified the root of the issue. The transmission output shaft speed sensor was losing connection randomly, causing the computer to determine the gear selection and shift point/speed incorrectly. To solve this problem, Brendan had to remove the sub-frame to access the transmission oil pan and expose the valve body assembly. However, the client decided to replace the entire transmission as preventative maintenance to prevent future downtime.  He replaced the transmission as the client requested and they were thrilled with the results. Brendan's hard work paid o ... 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

Our Repair of the Month is based on a Ram 5500 that came in with a heating issue. The customer explained that his heat was not working as efficiently as it used to and was only getting lukewarm. Another thing the customer noticed was that the heat on the passenger side seemed to be blowing warmer than on the driver's side. Based on previous experiences, we immediately knew that this was likely to be an issue with the vehicle's heater core.  The heater core is a part of the vehicle's cooling system that is responsible for heating the cabin when you turn the heat on. It is almost always located between the dashboard and the firewall, making the removal of the dashboard necessary to replace it. The evaporative core, part of the air conditioning system, can also be found behind the dashboard. This customer wanted to take preventative measures and replace the evaporator core too whi ... read more

Navigating Ford Timing and Cam Phaser Issues: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions If you're a proud owner of a Ford vehicle, you may have heard about the occasional stories related to the timing system. Found in many of Ford’s vehicles, the 3.5-liter Ecoboost is a V6 motor that economizes on fuel efficiency and provides a nice performance punch, making it very popular. Unfortunately, many people including us here at Automotive Magic, have recognized that the timing system on vehicles with this motor tends to have some issues. Two critical components that can encounter issues over time are the timing chain and camshaft-phasers. Ignoring these issues, if encountered,  could potentially lead to catastrophic failure of the motor. In this blog, we'll explore the causes, symptoms, and solutions associated with Ford's timing chain and cam phaser issues in the 3.5-liter Ecoboost. The timing chain is a crucial component of an internal combustion engine, ens ... read more

Ram/General Heater Core Issues Just imagine winter is here, you go outside in the morning to start your car and let it warm up before you head out to start your day. You walk back outside and get in your car only to find cold air blowing out of your vents. “Ughhhhh, why is my car not warming up!?” Our team at Automotive Magic/Magic Lube & Rubber knows there could be a couple of issues that could cause your car to blow cold air instead of heat. Things such as low coolant, a broken blend door, or a stuck open thermostat could all be the culprits of having no heat. But the one we will be focusing on today is heater cores. While often overshadowed by its larger counterpart, the radiator, the heater core plays a vital role in ensuring your car's interior is a comfortable haven when temperatures plummet.  Heater Core Function  Now you may be wondering, what exactly is a heater core and what job does it perform? Here are some of the basics. Imagine the heater c ... read more

A recent situation that our client faced with their 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.7 Liter was a loud growling/humming sound coming from the rear of the vehicle while driving. This can be caused by failing pinion bearings inside the rear differential. Here at Automotive Magic, we have the expertise and equipment to diagnose and repair this sort of issue quickly and efficiently. Our expert technician used a stethoscope, just like a doctor, to confirm the problem and then disassemble the rear differential to replace all the bearings.  But, what causes the pinion bearings to fail internally? Lack of fluid changes is the primary culprit. Gear oil breaks down over time and becomes less protective and more abrasive, causing damage to the bearings. This is why it’s important to maintain all the fluids in your vehicle, including differential fluids, transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and coolant.  At Automotive Magic, we understand the imp ... read more

Our Repair of the Month for October features a 2017 Jeep Wrangler 3.6L V6 with 85,000 miles the customer reported the vehicle was smoking and overheating, but there was no sign of coolant leakage, even though the coolant level was low. In light of this information, we conducted a chemical test to determine if there was an internal coolant leakage in the engine. The test confirmed the presence of exhaust gas in the coolant, which is typically an indication of a bad head gasket or a crack in one or both of the heads (top half of the motor). When the head gasket is damaged, exhaust gas leaks into the coolant system, and the coolant leaks into the motor, where it mixes with engine oil. We confirmed that the head gasket was defective and removed the motor and removed the heads. We advised the customer to replace the heads with new, fully loaded ones, to avoid future problems as other components such as camshafts, timing components, and lifters could also fail. A ... 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

Our June Repair of the month features a 2005 Lexus GX470 4.7L V8, with an exhaust manifold leak. The exhaust manifold is the part of the exhaust system that comes directly off of the engine block. There is a gasket between the manifold and the block that seals the gap and keeps  any exhaust gasses from escaping. In this case, the gasket needed to be replaced. When the manifold is leaking like this one, it makes a ticking sound that can sometimes be confused with an engine misfire, tick or knock. The sound is apparent upon first startup of the vehicle when the engine is cold and sometimes may go away as the engine heats up, or may stay consistent.   A leaking manifold can cause serious problems if left untreated for too long. Besides the obvious health risks of exhaust leak making its way into the cabin for you to breathe in, the exhaust valves can get burned from the heat not being expelled efficiently from the cylinder. This can also cause  damage to the piston ri ... read more

If you feel like you’ve been burned by an auto repair shop in the past, you’re in good company.  Some surveys suggest that as many as 3 out of 4 people feel like they have been overcharged for auto repairs or worry about being overcharged for services they may not even need.  As with most things in life, knowledge is power, so the more you know the less likely you are to be targeted for overcharging.  Here’s a helpful guide to answer the question: how do you know if an auto shop is legit? Signs That an Auto Shop is Legit Honest, forthright auto shop owners and technicians tend to exhibit similar actions, accolades, and business practices. They include: Ethical Auto Repair Shops Will Provide Written Estimates Shops need time to properly inspect your car in order to provide a written estimate so steer clear of shops that resist quoting you an estimate. Trustworthy Shops Will Have the Receipts to Prove Dedication to Their Craft Trustworthy auto repai ... read more