Holden Hatchback Range

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.

Burnt transmission fluid can definitely cause the problems you’re having. If it’s burnt or contaminated, it might be black or very dark red, rather than the nice, clear, bright red it should be. It’s off the to transmission specialist for this one, as the lack of drive could be caused by many things. An experienced mechanic will know this transmission and should be able to diagnose it swiftly.

The bad news is that you might have avoided serious damage if you’d had the transmission inspected when it first started to behave erratically. But continuing to drive it with a problem can often cause further and more serious damage. You may now find that the cost of repairs is greater than the value of the vehicle.

In most cars, a red dashboard light suggests a serious problem that needs addressing now. An orange light, meanwhile, is trying to tell you that something slightly less important is going on. But something that still needs attention sooner rather than later. In a Barina, the orange light could be indicating anything from a check-engine warning to low fuel level.

The blue light, meanwhile, is more likely to be indicating that the coolant temperature is still low and you should drive gently until it is warmed up.