Are you concerned because you saw a small wrench light on your dashboard? The "Orange Wrench of Death" is the term referring to this light. A wrench light on your automobile is part of the maintenance monitor that helps you keep track of your vehicle's demands.
If you use a Ford F150 pickup and the wrench light illuminates, then don’t worry. Read our article to know what does wrench light mean on an F150! It indicates your vehicle's engine or four-wheel-drive system has been identified by the computer and an issue appeared.
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What Does The Wrench Light Mean on Ford Vehicles?
When the wrench light emerges, it indicates that it is time to schedule your next car service visit. It is primarily intended to act as a warning or a reminder to make the appointment as soon as possible.
A wrench light on your dashboard (if you use one) might appear for a variety of reasons, including throttle difficulties, gearbox faults, transmission issues, carburetor problems (if your car has one), wiring or electrical issues, battery problems, or the need to change your oil.
Warning Lights that You Might Misunderstand with Wrench Light
- A red exclamation point inside a circle
- A temperature gauge on top of wavy lines
- A red oil can with a droplet above
- Check Engine Light (Which is similar to wrench light but says different)
- Battery alert light
- Traction control malfunction light
- Engine temperature warning system
Most Common Ford 150 Problems
The most common Ford problems that can cause the Wrench light to illuminate are given below:
- Low-voltage power
- Low augmentation/boost
- Temperature abnormalities between the block and the cylinder head
- Faulty oil cooler
- Problem with the electronic throttle body
- An issue with the powertrain sensor
Wrench Symbol on Dashboard Issues
Throttle Issues
Many people have realized that when their car's wrench light shines on, it's usually due to a throttle issue. This light frequently comes on while people are attempting to get their automobile to start or when it has stopped and won't start again.
It is recommended that you have your automobile towed to a mechanic's garage, or that you take your car to a garage right away if you are one of the few who still has their car on and can drive.
It is dangerous to drive with this light on for an extended period since it may stall and not turn back on at any time.
Transmission Issues
Another common reason for the wrench to appear on your car dashboard is a problem with your gearbox. Your wrench light might turn on out of nowhere while your car is still running great.
Or in a few cases, little issues may have developed over time, and your car dashboard wrench light may have illuminated. Regardless of how your light came on, it's time to take your car to a technician for an inspection.
Expert auto mechanics will be able to inform you if the problem is with your transmission and how to fix it. Sometimes the transmission merely stops working, and other times it's a loose wire from your transmission that emerges the issue.
Carburetor Issues
When your wrench light turns on, another common problem is a faulty carburetor. As some car owners have noticed, your carburetor will cause your vehicle to quiver or get too heated.
When this happens, the wrench light will be on, signaling that it is time to get your car repaired. You could be lucky and all your carburetor needs is a good cleaning, or you might need to have it repaired or replaced entirely. It depends on the extent of the carburetor damage and the underlying issue.
Wiring Issue
And it might be nothing more than a hanging cable in certain cases. Some car owners have seen the wrench light on their dashboard and taken their vehicle in for service, only to learn some very positive – if bothersome – information.
They have a tangled wire that has to be replaced or fixed. It's usually a wire that connects to the vehicle's computer. Depending on the wiring, this should take a couple of hours max.
Battery Issue
Your car's battery might also be causing your wrench light to illuminate. This might be because your battery is going low or has died completely.
When this happens, you should take your automobile to a competent mechanic straight soon to get it checked out. The majority of mechanics have discovered that the battery is failing, which is causing problems with the car's illumination system, including the wrench.
Oil change Issue
The best news you could get is that you need to change your oil. When the wrench light on your car's dash pops up, a lucky handful went to the technician and had a fast oil change, and the light magically went away.
Final Note
Even if you're stressed, your automobile isn't doomed to end up in a junkyard. The wrench light can be caused by a variety of factors, so determining the problem should be your priority.
It is never a good idea to try to solve the problem on your own. When your wrench light comes on, get it towed or driven to a technician as soon as possible.