2012 Holden Cruze Pricing and Specs

The filling point for this transmission is on top of the gearbox, under the ECU (drive-line computer). So, to access it, you’ll need to move the computer (which attaches to the battery tray) out of the way. Take lots of photos before removing bits and pieces so you’ll know how it all goes back together.

However, it’s doubtful that a lack of gearbox oil is your problem here. If the oil was low, the transmission would probably be making some seriously bad noises or would be completely seized up, not just refusing to shift out of reverse. The refusal to abandon reverse probably has more to do with a mechanical selector problem. But don’t rule out a worn or maladjusted clutch, either.

The official oil recommendation for this vehicle is a fully synthetic 5W30 grade oil. If the engine is in good condition, this is the best oil to use. The X-factor in all of this, of course, is the relatively high mileage your car has covered. As engines wear, and perhaps begin to consume a bit more oil between oil-changes, the conventional wisdom has been to use a slightly thicker oil. A 10W40 would be the logical choice here.

But the turbocharged Cruze engine, like a lot of modern engines, uses some pretty fine oilways that may not be compatible with the thicker 10W40. Examples of this include the oilways that lubricate the turbocharger’s bearing and also the ones that allow the variable valve timing to operate properly. Unless the engine is showing real signs of wear, sticking with the 5W30 oil is definitely the best advice.

This shouldn’t be a difficult job and it’s a good task to ease yourself into maintaining your own vehicle. The simplest way to do this is to replace the entire blade and spine assembly. This will cost more than replacing just the rubber blade, but is very easy with just one catch to unclip (where the blade pivots on the wiper arm) before the whole assembly can be removed and replaced. You can google tutorial videos on this take which take you through the whole process. It should take only a couple of minutes.

If you’re really stumped by this, some parts stores offer a free fitting service for things like wiper blades. You may have to buy a new pair of blades to access this service, however. But if you watch the process and take note of how it works, you’ll be able to change your own blades in the future.