Kenvil & Lake Hopatcong Auto Repair

Maintaining your car battery is an essential aspect of keeping your vehicle in good working order. At Magic Lube & Rubber, we believe that your battery is the lifeline of your car and requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning at its best. Let's take a closer look at why your battery matters and what you can do to ensure it stays healthy. Your Battery's Role in Your Vehicle Your battery is responsible for providing the initial energy required to start your car's engine. Without it, your vehicle won't move an inch. Additionally, your battery helps regulate voltage, which is essential for preventing damage to sensitive electronic components. From headlights to power windows, your battery ensures that all electrical systems in your car function correctly. How Long Does a Battery Last? On average, a car battery lasts between three to five years. However, this can vary based on several factors, including driving habits, weat ... 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

Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions If you're a Chevy owner, you may have heard of the dreaded lifter issues that seem to be plaguing some Chevrolet vehicles. Based on our experiences, it's a common problem that can cause everything from annoying ticking noises to serious performance issues, and eventually catastrophic motor failure. With so many coming in, we wanted to put a blog together to shine some light on these issues for our clients and anyone else who may not know or want to know more about them. So let's get into it!   What are Lifters? Before diving into the issues, it is important to understand what lifters are and their role in the engine. Lifters are small cylindrical components located in the engine block. They sit between the camshaft and the pushrods or valves. The lifter's primary function is to transfer the movement of the camshaft to the pushrods or valves, which in turn open and close the engine's intake and exhaust valves. Essentially, th ... 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

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

It is essential to maintain the right engine coolant levels to ensure your vehicle's engine operates smoothly. Engine coolant, also known as antifreeze, is a critical component that helps prevent engine overheating and freezing. However, many people are unaware of the potential dangers that can arise when engine coolant either boils or freezes. At Magic Lube and Rubber, our experienced technicians understand the importance of maintaining the proper coolant levels, and they use specialized tools such as a hydrometer to ensure your vehicle's health. The Danger of Boiling Coolant If your engine coolant boils, it can create problems for your vehicle. Engine coolant is designed to prevent your engine from overheating, and when it boils, it loses its ability to regulate temperature effectively. This can lead to engine damage, including cracked cylinder heads and blown head gaskets. An overheated engine is an expensive problem that could leave you stranded on the sid ... read more

At Automotive Magic, we prioritize delivering exceptional service and repairs to our clients. To achieve this, we have assembled a team of industry experts who are committed to using the latest technology and establishing strong relationships with our vendors to provide our clients with the best possible pricing. Being one of our current clients, you have likely met Jay, our talented technician who joined our team with an impressive list of certifications and a passion for solving problems. He graduated from Wyotech Automotive and Light Diesel Training and is licensed by the state of NJ and the Motor Vehicle Commission for vehicle inspection and emission repairs. Jay's dedication to his craft is admirable; he is always seeking to improve his knowledge and skills and has earned several certifications, including Master Certified Technician, Light Duty Diesel, L1, Gasoline-Powered Engines, and Advanced Level Sp ... 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

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