Our new auto APM shares vehicle lockdown maintenance tips

Our School of Trade and Services recently filled their second Academic Programme Manager (APM) role, with the appointment of Bryan Davis, who was previously the National Service Operations Manager for Honda NZ. Bryan will be working alongside APM Jake Curran, who joined the School four months ago, returning to New Zealand from Australia, where he was with TAFE NSW as Senior Project Manager, Workforce Development Skills Exchange.

We thought it was timely for Bryan, who joined us just two weeks ago, in the midst of Alert Level 4 lockdown, to introduce himself and to also get his tips on looking after your car during lockdown and general maintenance.

Bryan Davis

Meet Bryan Davis – Academic Programme Manager, School of Trades and Services

I’m a ‘local’, born and raised in Mt Roskill. I have two children and three of the cutest grandchildren I could have imagined.

When writing this, it was my first week at Unitec, as the APM for the School of Trades and Service’s Automotive section. So far I have had a brief (online) meet and greet with my team, as well as with some support department staff, and I must say what a great bunch of people. I can’t wait to meet everyone in person!

I’ve been in the automotive industry all my working life, around 40 years, in multiple roles. I guess one had to with a father who owned and operated a large petrol station! At a young age I enjoyed fixing/diagnosing things and meeting people on the forecourt of dad’s station.

Transitioning from my old role as National Service Operations Manager for Honda NZ to beginning my new APM role at Unitec amid COVID-19 lockdown has been a weird transition, but everyone at Unitec have been so supportive.

Outside of work I love all sports, watching and doing. I used to swim competitively (at a young age), play rugby, rugby league, soccer and fish, and I’m a casual squash and golfer player.

Family is the centre of my and my wife’s (Deborah’s) world where we share a passion for genealogy. This has enabled us to meet and reconnect with family members both here in New Zealand and overseas. It’s our reason to travel the world and go to some amazing places, have incredible experiences, meet fascinating people and learn more about ourselves.

I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to be involved in young people’s introduction to the automotive industry and can’t wait to start physically working at Unitec soon, to enable me to share some of the knowledge and skills I have gained from the automotive industry retail world, with our students and lecturers. 

Bryan enjoying time out with his grandkids

Looking after your car during and post lockdown

The current lockdown situation presents some interesting scenarios like, what happens to our vehicles during this period and what should/must we do?

By and large machines are built to operate, therefore vehicles sitting idle for prolonged periods i.e. four weeks or more is not ideal.

Lack of use is one of the most common causes of flat batteries and poorly maintained complications that can occur to a motor vehicle. Right now is that time. But don’t worry there are some simple things you can do to help prevent issues from occurring:

1. Start your vehicles engine, open the garage door if inside. If it doesn’t start at least you have time to organise someone to assist, there are many breakdown specialists who will become available once lockdown finishes.
2. If an opportunity to use your vehicle exists to get essential goods from the supermarket now would be a good time to run your ca
3. On your way to the supermarket pop into the petrol station and have tyre pressures and tyre condition checked. If using the tyre pressure equipment yourself (as I found out) you will need to sanitise accordingly. Tyre pressures are typically stuck on the driver’s door jamb (latch point) area and in your owner’s manual.
4. Filling up with petrol is a good idea with current prices quite low.
5. If on return the journey is very short i.e. less than 15min, then leaving the engine running for a minimum of 15 minutes is good for the battery.
6. If it’s not possible to go to the shops or the journey was short so you have left your car’s engine running, don’t forget to secure the vehicle if left out of sight, and definitely don’t forget you left the engine running!

Being a responsible car owner – what does this mean? Your WOF, vehicle registration and driver’s licence

This time is also about being a responsible owner and checking all your vehicles legal and visual safety aspects such as:

1. Driver’s license, WOF/Registration expiry dates. While NZTA have provided extensions for expiration this will not last past lockdown. Most garages and franchise operations can take bookings so these don’t get forgotten, workshops are going to be really happy to see you.
2. Check everything works, it might sound crazy but actually this is your legal responsibility, so having a careful look over your vehicle lights and make sure things twinkle, go on and off, up and down.
3. If your vehicle has been sitting outside wiper rubbers tend to stick to glass, so carefully lift them to check they haven’t stuck to the glass before using them, some of these wiper rubbers aren’t too cheap!
4. Another job for your vehicle, now is the time, especially if it’s been left outside in the weather, for a good time to clean and a six-monthly wax of the bodywork. Of particular note, bird droppings, tree sap and general environmental fall-out is like acid to your vehicles body and could affect your investment significantly in the longer term.
5. Vehicle engine oils deteriorate without use, this is why servicing (changing oil included) is recommended by time (usually annually), and not just by mileage. If your vehicles service is due by time, book it in this will save you money and frustrations later on and will ensure your safety, with critical items also being checked (brakes etc).

Last of all, don’t worry, everything can be fixed, but as an old Roman medical saying goes “prevention is better than a cure”!