What we handle
Dodge service in Mays Landing, NJ
Eight bays, foreign and domestic, with Mopar-protocol scan tools that read every modern Dodge platform. We cover the routine work the dealer should not need to do and refer the factory work the dealer must do.
Scheduled maintenance and fluids
Oil and filter, brake fluid flush, spark plug replacement, cabin and engine air filters, all at the Dodge oil-life monitor intervals and the Mopar factory schedule.
Common examples: Oil life monitor service, HEMI plugs (16 total), Pentastar plugs and coils, ZF 8HP fluid at 60k
HEMI and Pentastar engine work
HEMI 5.7L tick diagnosis, MDS lifter replacement, valve seat repair on early 5.7L. Pentastar 3.6L cylinder head replacement on 2011 to 2014 Charger, Challenger, and Durango. Cooling, gaskets, oil leaks, drivability.
Common examples: HEMI tick / MDS, Valve seat drop, Pentastar head, Cooling system
Brakes, suspension, AC, electrical
Brake pad and rotor service including Brembo on SRT and Hellcat, suspension diagnostics on coil-spring and air-spring Durango, AC service, and UConnect / coil pack / module diagnostics.
Common examples: Brembo brake service, Air suspension, AC service, UConnect diagnostics
Referred to the Dodge dealer
Warranty service, recall service, factory software updates and module reflashes, Charger Daytona EV high-voltage battery and motor work, and Hornet R/T PHEV high-voltage battery service go to the Dodge dealer network. We help coordinate the handoff if useful.
Common examples: Warranty service, Software updates, Charger Daytona HV, Hornet PHEV HV
If you have a Charger R/T that ticks on cold start, a 2012 Challenger Pentastar that overheated once, a Durango SRT that needs Brembo pads, or a Hornet PHEV that needs an oil change on the gas side, we have done that work in this shop.
Signs your Dodge needs service
Most Dodge owners only call a non-dealer shop when something on the dash, under the hood, or under the car has changed. Here are the symptoms we see most often, and what each one usually means before we put the car on the lift.
HEMI tick on cold start that does not quiet down
The signature 5.7L failure mode. MDS lifter collapse on Charger R/T, Challenger R/T, and Durango R/T. Caught early, it is a cam and lifter job. Ignored, it eats the camshaft. The wiTECH scan reads the misfire counter that tells us which cylinder.
Check engine light on a 2011 to 2014 Pentastar V6
Cylinder head failure on the left bank of the early Pentastar 3.6L. Charger SXT, Challenger SXT, Durango base. Misfire on cylinder 2 is the classic code. The fix is a new head; we have done a lot of them.
Harsh shift or delayed engagement on the ZF 8HP
Valve body issue on early 8HP transmissions in Charger, Challenger, and Durango. Sometimes a fluid service and a valve body rebuild solves it without dropping the trans. The scan tool reads adaptive memory before we decide.
Misfire or rough idle on a HEMI
Sixteen plugs and eight coil packs on the 5.7L and 6.4L. Coil packs fail more than plugs. The wiTECH scan reads the cylinder-specific misfire counter; we replace the failed coil, not all eight.
Brake squeal or pulsation through the pedal
Pad wear indicator on Charger and Challenger, glazed rotors on Durango from towing, or warped rotors from heat cycling on R/T and SRT cars driven hard. Brembo systems on SRT 392 and Hellcat get OEM pad-and-rotor replacement to preserve brake feel.
AC blowing warm or cycling oddly
Refrigerant low, compressor clutch failing, or the cabin filter is blocked. Common on older Charger and Durango. EPA Section 609 certification covers the recharge.
Electrical glitch on UConnect, lighting, or windows
Body control module faults, ground corrosion, or a failing battery weak enough to confuse the modules. UConnect freezes and reboots are a known nuisance on certain build years. The scan tool isolates the system before parts get thrown at it.
Vibration at highway speed or under braking
Tire balance, wheel runout, warped rotor, or a worn suspension component. Common on Charger and Challenger with the staggered-tire setup. The diagnostic narrows it down before parts get ordered.
Two or more at once, do not wait. HEMI tick especially is cheaper at the cam-and-lifter stage than at the new-engine stage.
Dodge service for Mays Landing and Atlantic County owners
Same family, same eight bays, same corner of Mays Landing since 1981. We serve Hamilton Township, Egg Harbor Township, Northfield, Somers Point, Folsom, Buena Vista, and the rest of Atlantic County. Most Dodge owners we see drive in from those towns plus the casinos, the shore towns, Vineland, Millville, and the racetrack crowd on weekends.
The nearest Dodge dealer is in EHT or AC, about 15 to 25 minutes from Mays Landing. The dealer keeps the work that needs the dealer: warranty service, recalls, factory software, Charger Daytona EV high-voltage, and Hornet R/T PHEV battery. Everything else, especially the HEMI tick that the dealer would rather sell you a new engine on, stays with us.
Helpful details to mention
- Vehicle year, model, and trim (Charger R/T, Challenger Scat Pack, Durango SRT, etc.)
- Engine (5.7L HEMI, 6.4L 392, 6.2L supercharged, 3.6L Pentastar, 2.0L Hornet)
- Mileage
- Which dash light is on, or what UConnect is showing
- What changed and when (sound, feel, smell, performance)
- Whether the car is modified (tune, cam, intake, deleted MDS) or stock
- Whether the car is still under factory or extended warranty
The more we know up front, the more accurate the estimate and the timeline. Modified HEMI cars in particular get a different diagnostic order than stock cars.
Customer proof
Service was performed quickly and the Kneble Team provided great communication throughout the visit.Robert Orzechowski, Google review
Questions before scheduling?
Talk with us about Dodge Repair and Service in Mays Landing, NJ
Tell us the model, the year, the engine, the mileage, and what changed. If it is a HEMI tick or a Pentastar head, we book the visit and quote it on arrival. If it is a Charger Daytona EV battery item, we save you the trip and tell you where to take it.
Service guide
Dodge Repair and Service in Mays Landing, NJ Service Guide
Topic-based reference for the HEMI tick failure mode, the Pentastar cylinder head story, the ZF 8HP, the Charger Daytona EV scope-shield, and the warranty mechanics that matter when you choose between an independent shop and the dealer.
In this guide
01 of 05, The HEMI
The HEMI tick: what it is, what causes it, what it costs
The HEMI tick is the signature failure on the 5.7L V8 in Charger R/T, Challenger R/T, Durango R/T, and the same engine in Ram 1500. It starts as a metallic tick on cold start that does not quiet down with oil temperature. Left alone, it eats the camshaft. Caught at the lifter stage, it is a cam-and-lifter job we do in this shop.
Read more about The HEMI tick: what it is, what causes it, what it costs
What actually fails
The Multi-Displacement System (MDS) lifters on cylinders 1, 4, 6, and 7 collapse under their own design. When the lifter collapses, it scores the cam lobe. The misfire counter on the wiTECH scan tells us which cylinder. Once the cam lobe is scored, the whole cam comes out with the lifters.
MDS delete: yes or no
A lot of owners ask us to delete the MDS system during the repair (non-MDS lifters plus a tune that turns the cylinder deactivation off). It is a reasonable conversation on an out-of-warranty car. On a car still under powertrain warranty, we say no, because the delete voids the powertrain warranty. We talk through it before we order parts.
Valve seat drop on 2014 to 2017 5.7L
A separate failure on a narrower year range. The exhaust valve seat drops out of the cylinder head. Catastrophic and almost always means a new head. Different symptom (sudden misfire and compression loss) than the MDS tick.
02 of 05, The Pentastar
The Pentastar 3.6L V6 cylinder head story (2011 to 2014)
The first-generation Pentastar 3.6L V6 has a known left-bank cylinder head failure. Cylinder 2 misfire is the classic code. It affected Charger SXT, Challenger SXT, Durango base, plus the Jeep and Chrysler variants. Stellantis revised the head design in 2014 and the problem mostly went away on later cars.
Read more about The Pentastar 3.6L V6 cylinder head story (2011 to 2014)
How we diagnose it
Cylinder-specific misfire on bank 1 (left bank). We compression test, leak-down test, and confirm the head is the failure point before we recommend the job. Sometimes it presents as a stuck rocker arm and we catch it before the head itself is damaged.
The repair
New head, new gasket set, fresh coolant, fresh oil. On a 2011 to 2014 Pentastar that the dealer is quoting at engine-replacement money, the head replacement is the right call ninety percent of the time. We have done a lot of these.
Tell us what changed, when it started, and what you drive. We can help decide whether to start with an inspection, alignment check, or related repair.
03 of 05, ZF 8HP
ZF 8HP transmission service for Charger, Challenger, Durango
The ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic is shared across Charger, Challenger, Durango, Ram, Jeep, and a long list of luxury European cars. It is a strong transmission with one known weak point on the early build years.
Read more about ZF 8HP transmission service for Charger, Challenger, Durango
Valve body issues on early 8HP
Harsh shifts, delayed engagement, and limp-mode events on early 8HP transmissions point at the valve body. Sometimes a fluid service and a valve body rebuild fixes it without dropping the trans. The scan tool reads adaptive memory and shift-quality data before we decide.
Fluid service at 60,000 miles
Mopar lists a 60,000-mile fluid service interval. ZF-spec fluid, OEM filter. We do not flush; we drain, drop the pan, change the filter, and refill. Doing it right means the transmission lasts the life of the car.
04 of 05, Charger Daytona
Charger Daytona EV and Hornet PHEV: what we cover, what stays with the dealer
The 2024+ Charger Daytona EV (Stellantis STLA Large platform, 400V and 800V architectures) and the Hornet R/T PHEV (1.3L turbo plus electric motor, shared with Alfa Romeo Tonale) both follow a clear scope-shield. We service the items every car has; the dealer keeps the items only an EV or PHEV has.
Read more about Charger Daytona EV and Hornet PHEV: what we cover, what stays with the dealer
What stays at Kneble's
Tires, brakes, suspension, cabin AC, cabin electronics, UConnect, 12V auxiliary battery, wiper blades, and cabin filter on both the Charger Daytona EV and the Hornet R/T PHEV. On the Hornet PHEV we also service the ICE side (1.3L turbo) including oil, plugs, and coolant.
What goes to the dealer
High-voltage battery pack, HV motor windings, inverter, DC fast-charge interface, battery cooling loop, and any HV component that requires de-energizing the pack. Stellantis early-build software and charging-system issues on the Daytona EV stay with the dealer for the same reason. Those items need factory permissions and tooling.
Tell us the year, make, model, and what you are noticing, and we will say what to check first.
05 of 05, How we
How we protect your Dodge warranty
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects owners using independent shops for routine service: a manufacturer cannot void your warranty because an independent shop did your oil change or brake job. We document every Dodge service per Mopar standards and refer warranty-eligible items back to the dealer so coverage stays intact.
Read more about How we protect your Dodge warranty
What we keep on file for you
Printed and digital service records that match the format the Dodge dealer expects. Parts receipts when we use aftermarket-spec parts. If the dealer ever pushes back on a powertrain warranty claim, those documents are how Magnuson-Moss protections actually work in practice.
What we will not touch
Anything warranty-eligible. We tell you directly which items are dealer-only and route you there. That is the deal. On the HEMI tick specifically, the Stellantis powertrain warranty has covered the cam-and-lifter job for a lot of owners; if your car still has powertrain coverage, the dealer is the right first call.
Call the shop or request an appointment and include the vehicle year, make, model, mileage, and symptoms.
FAQs
Dodge service FAQs
My HEMI ticks on cold start. Is it the MDS lifters?
Probably. The 5.7L HEMI tick on cold start that does not quiet down with oil temperature is almost always MDS lifter collapse on cylinders 1, 4, 6, or 7. The wiTECH scan reads the cylinder-specific misfire counter and confirms. Caught early it is a cam-and-lifter job. Ignored, it eats the camshaft and turns into a much bigger bill. Bring it in before the tick turns into a misfire.
Should I delete the MDS while you have the engine apart?
Reasonable question on an out-of-warranty car. Non-MDS lifters plus a tune that turns cylinder deactivation off solves the failure mode permanently and most owners report they prefer how the engine feels without MDS. On a car still under powertrain warranty, we say no, because the delete voids that coverage. We walk through the math before we order parts.
My 2013 Charger Pentastar has a cylinder 2 misfire. Is that the head?
Very likely. The first-generation Pentastar 3.6L V6 in the 2011 to 2014 Charger SXT, Challenger SXT, and Durango base has a well-documented left-bank cylinder head failure with cylinder 2 misfire as the classic code. We compression and leak-down test to confirm, then quote the new head. We have done a lot of these.
I am looking at a used Charger or Challenger. What should I have you check?
Pre-purchase inspection is one of our most-requested services on used HEMI cars. We listen for the cold-start tick, scan for stored misfire history, look at the cam phasers, check the 8HP transmission shift quality, look for MDS-delete tunes the seller did not disclose, and check for evidence of track use. Worth the visit before you sign the papers on a high-mileage 5.7L or 6.4L.
What does Kneble's do specifically about the Charger Daytona EV?
We service tires, brakes, suspension, cabin AC, UConnect, and the 12V auxiliary battery on the Charger Daytona EV. We do not service the high-voltage battery pack, motor windings, inverter, DC fast-charge interface, or any HV component that requires de-energizing the pack. Stellantis early-build software and charging-system issues stay with the dealer. Those go to the Dodge dealer in EHT or AC.
What about the Hornet R/T PHEV?
On the Hornet R/T PHEV we service the ICE side (1.3L turbo) including oil, plugs, coolant, and the rest of the standard maintenance schedule. We service tires, brakes, suspension, cabin AC, and UConnect. The high-voltage battery pack and the electric motor side go to the Dodge dealer. The platform is shared with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which is useful background if the dealer ever asks.
What does service cost on a Hellcat or Demon?
Higher than a stock R/T, lower than the dealer. The 6.2L supercharged engine, the supercharger oil service, the cooling system, and the brake hardware (Brembo six-piston front on Hellcat, larger still on Demon and Demon 170) all add cost over a normal HEMI. We do not quote prices in editorial; the written estimate happens after we see the actual car. We have serviced enough Hellcats to know what to look for, especially on cars that have seen the dragstrip.
Where do most South Jersey Dodge owners drive in from?
Most appointments come from the Mays Landing, Hamilton Township, and Egg Harbor Township triangle plus the Atlantic City Expressway feeder towns. Charger and Challenger owners drive in from Vineland, Millville, Galloway, Absecon, and the racetrack crowd from further out on weekends. The HEMI cars travel; that is part of the deal.
Further reading and viewing
Related Kneble's coverage for Dodge owners
HEMI, Pentastar, transmission, and diagnostic-related content from the Kneble's library if you want to dig deeper.
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Local shop
Visit Kneble's in Mays Landing
5473 Somers Point Road, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Five minutes off Route 40 between the Hamilton Mall and Lake Lenape. Ten minutes from the Atlantic City Expressway Exit 17. Twelve minutes from EHT and Northfield. Fifteen minutes from Somers Point along Mays Landing-Somers Point Road. From Folsom or Buena Vista, take 322 east, then south on Somers Point Road. Freddy J's Bar & Kitchen is nearby at 5698 Somers Point Road if you want to grab food before or after the appointment.
- Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm
- Saturday 8am to 4pm
- Sunday Closed
Reviews
Trusted by South Jersey drivers
Customers come to Kneble's for clear communication, practical recommendations, and repairs handled by a local team they can reach directly.
Friendly receptionist. In and out within 45 mins.
Janet Jackson, Google review
Service was performed quickly and the Kneble Team provided great communication throughout the visit.
Robert Orzechowski, Google review
Excellent quick service by personable staff and very qualified techs at a reasonable charge.
Glenn Peterson, Google review
Very good service here. Treated us very well. Great conversation with Carmen.
Gary Mazzone, Google review