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Wrench light and limp mode randomly

Messages
2
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0
City
Edmonton
State
KY
Country
United States
What I Drive
2012 Ford Fiesta
#1
2012 Fiesta with 1.6. The car has done this about 8 months after I bought it. The wrench light will come on and the car goes into limp mode. I pull off turn it off and start right back and it’s fine acts like a new car. It does it randomly from idling, driving at fluctuating speeds and just a Constant speeds on interstates. I haven’t had the codes pulled while the wrench light is on bc I’m never around a shop when it happens. I have no idea what is wrong and it absolutely annoying!! Please help!!
 

Handy Andy

Well-Liked Member
Premium Account
Messages
1,455
Likes
1,140
City
Grand Rapids
State
MI
Country
United States
What I Drive
2018 Ford Fiesta SE HB
#3
Got a local Auto Parts store around?

You just need a simple OBD-II hand scanner reader - one that can read codes thru the OBD port.

They are about $45 - $55 bucks - it saves you the trouble of having to find a dealership when this happens.

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The "Wrench" on the FIESTA lite usually means oil change or service - but the other light is the one that looks like a tiny version of your motor - that one usually means codes are getting sent or stored and the wrench light is just a service reminder.

So, for it to go into "limp mode" - how to you know it's in "limp mode"?

If its mis-firing a cylinder or poor fuel - that sets the Check engine light...

But if it loose wiring a bad spark plug wire - the system will try to clear, but if it re-occurs, so it again sets a wrench light because it thinks something is wrong with the PCM or transmission. It can't discern the difference between a bad plug or a throttle plate issue really quick, - if it senses a difference in signal from a specific item then is sets a diagnostic code pending DTC in the OBD - and may set the check engine light.

Doesn't always set a "wrench light" - but it may mean you have to fix some electrical problem - loose battery cable or one of the many wires off of that red Terminal cap on the Positive post of the battery, might be coming loose - and setting this condition - while it is trying to sort out why it does work and well, then this - that usually means a bad or loose connector.

So, when you get that little code scanner, look not just for codes, but the I/M monitors - see which system the OBD can monitor, is NOT READY that is a sub-system to check, like EVAP EGR, PCM FUEL HVAC and others - depends on the model of scanner you use.
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