The wrench warning light on Ford vehicles is the powertrain malfunction indicator light. When it illuminates, it means that the computer has detected an issue with your vehicle's powertrain or four-wheel-drive system.
A powertrain malfunction light should be taken seriously, as allowing a serious issue to persist can lead to costly repairs to your engine, transmission, or drivetrain in the long run. You should consider having the car towed straight to an authorized dealer rather than driving if you notice any changes in your vehicle's performance like engine shaking or reduced power. In cases where you are towing a heavy load and/or driving up a steep grade, a powertrain malfunction light may be telling you to ease off to avoid overheating. If the problem resolves itself the warning may go away.
It's possible that your vehicle might enter Fail-Safe Mode shortly after the powertrain malfunction light illuminates. Fail-Safe Mode automatically limits engine power so that you can safely maneuver your vehicle off the road without causing any further damage to your vehicle's components. If this happens, you should only continue to drive as long as necessary to bring your vehicle to rest in a safe location and seek immediate repairs.
If your Ford dashboard warning light is orange or red, this can be a signal that your vehicle is experiencing a problem that
should be looked at very soon. Use Ford's quick and easy dashboard warning light reference sheet to determine what is happening with your vehicle.
When a light is yellow, your Ford is trying to tell you that service may be required, or at the least, you should have a technician decipher the warning lights meaning. When a Ford dashboard warning light is green or blue, they are simply telling you that one of your Ford's features is being used, or has been activated.
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