Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

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

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

Ever felt like your mechanic's been running a marathon before they even get to your car? Like they're spread too thin, juggling work, life, and everything in between? Yeah, we've all been there. You know what it's like. The burnout is visible in their eyes as they explain your car's issues. And you can't help but think, "Man, they need a break." But remember - they're humans just like us, grappling with life’s demands, sweating the small stuff. What if I told you there's a place that's changing the game? An auto repair shop that values its team members’ well-being as much as they value your car's. A place that doesn't just fix vehicles but also works magic on its team's life. Intrigued? Get ready to discover the behind-the-scenes story of Automotive Magic, the auto repair shop trailblazer, turning industry norms on their head. Imagine ... 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

We all have busy, full lives. Our minds are filled with everything that we need to do in a day/week/month/year and often have plans to get it all done. But what happens when our plans get interrupted by an unexpected repair or maintenance of a vehicle? The economy is crap, inflation is through the roof and now this!? Have no fear, we at Automotive Magic and Magic Lube and Rubber are here for you in your time of need! We offer financing options for you when you don’t know how you’re going to get it done.   The first option we offer is the NAPA EasyPay. This is a service provided through Synchrony Bank. It offers a 0% interest promotional rate, if paid off within 6 months. It’s a line of credit you can use on the immediate repair as well as any future vehicle repair needs. The other option is a snap! Loan. This service is provided through TAB Bank which looks beyond FICO scores and provides a loan of up to $3000. snap! Loans provides a quick and easy application pr ... 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

Tyler Zehnbauer is our newest team member and technician here at Automotive Magic. He's a graduate of Warren County Community College's Automotive Program. He brings with him seven years of dealership experience. Tyler’s our “Honda” guy. If you have a question about your Honda vehicle, his seven years of dealership experience dedicated to just Honda's can set your mind at ease, that he's the right technician to see. He is ready to meet all your automotive needs. He's eager to tackle any job big or small and prides himself on taking each one through to completion with perfection. Tyler is from Hackettstown, NJ where he currently lives with his girlfriend Courtney and their four dogs Ruby, Tyke, Riley & Gunner. Tyler loves to work on all things mechanical. When he's not working on a vehicle, he's out fishing, riding on his quad, or hitting the open roads on his motorcycle. He also enjoys whipping up a little magic of his own in the kit ... read more

Fuel Saving Tips: Here in New Jersey, we are no exception to the price of fuel rising every day. We know that making every gallon count is on everyone's minds. There are some services that we offer that can help you extend those fill-ups and possibly save you some money. When it comes to your tire inflation, nitrogen is a larger molecule than the molecules in the air which in turn makes it much less prone to leaking. Keeping the correct amount of PSI in your tires makes the vehicle roll effortlessly and efficiently. When the PSI is low the tires do not perform to their capacity and it's equivalent to trying to run in the sand.   A fuel injection cleaning is a vital part of vehicle maintenance, a clean injector atomizes the fuel into a fine mist which makes for complete combustion equaling maximum power and fuel mileage. Injectors easily get dirty from contaminants in the fuel and carbon build-up from combustion making poor atomization of the ... read more