A modern automatic transmission is an incredibly complex piece of equipment and failure to select gears can be anything from low fluid level to broken clutches or bands, right through to a problem with the valve body.

A trip to a transmission specialist will probably be worth the investment, if only to rule out the cheap fixes from the potentially expensive ones. As you’ve already discovered, changing random parts in the hope that the problem will disappear is a fast way to empty your wallet and still have a faulty car.

The first thing to do, however, is to check the fluid level in the transmission. This is often overlooked, but can produce the symptoms you’re seeing.

Caravelles sold new in Australia are claimed to be 1990mm tall.

The VW Caravelle can seat nine passengers.