Start with the basics and make sure the transmission has fluid in it. Even a small leak can eventually reduce the level of fluid in the transmission to the point where drive is lost. Can you see an oily patch under the car where it’s parked each night? That’s a pretty good sign fluid of some kind is escaping.

But you could also have a mechanical selection problem where the gear selector in the cabin isn’t prodding the transmission into gear as it should. This could be a breakage or even a maladjustment. But you could also be looking at a transmission that has failed internally and would require replacement or rebuilding.

Either way, a transmission specialist is the place to go. Chances are the mechanics there have already seen this exact problem in this exact model and will be able to make a quick diagnosis.

Let me guess: Your car is white, yes? This has been a real problem, not just for Holden, but also Toyota, Kia, Hyundai and even Honda (and possibly others) around the world. The problem is a chemical one in the white paint being used and it leads to delamination of the paint layers, with the white top coat either flaking, chipping or peeling off in great swathes.

Even some other colours have been noted succumbing to this process, but white seems to be the worst offender. Whether the problem is with the car’s preparation at the factory a function of a poor batch of paint from the supplier isn’t really known, but the finger is being pointed at the latter. Either way, it effectively destroys the resale value of your car as well as laying the car’s structure open to the elements.

The best advice is to contact Holden’s customer service department and perhaps even have the car professionally inspected (your state motoring club is a good place to start here). In the past, carmakers have been known to repaint affected cars at their own cost which, given your car’s garage history, shouldn’t be out of the question.

This is not a good sign and suggests that you have a fairly major engine problem. Sometimes this can be caused by an automatic transmission’s oil cooler having split and emptying transmission fluid (oil) into the radiator’s coolant. If that’s the case, the transmission will also probably be damaged both mechanically and electronically.

Other causes are a catastrophic failure of the engine crankcase or – not quite as serious – a blown cylinder head gasket. But in either of these cases, the engine will need major repairs. The cost of which may exceed the actual value of the car.

Depending on the severity of the problem, a recycled, second-hand engine from a wrecked Barina of the same model might be a better option.