[AlanBDahl]

2014 Fiesta ST, 20,500 miles, all stock.

This am I started my car as usual, drive the two blocks to the main road and idled for about 3 minutes because of unusually heavy traffic. I then accelerated briskly onto the highway and immediately the wrench light came on. I turned around at the first opportunity and swapped the Fiesta for my very reliable 300,000 mile Miata.

I stopped at the dealer on the way to work and arranged for them to look at the car tomorrow. They and the 800 number suggested towing it so that's what I'll do when I get home tonight. The dealer had the car just a week ago to fix a seat rattle and install a new cabin air filter. At that time they performed the standard inspection and noted no issues. The oil was last changed at the same dealer perhaps 1,000 miles ago.

Any idea what the issue could be? I'm hoping it's just electrical but my understanding is that the wrench could indicate bigger problems? Would a vehicle health report help any in diagnosis?

 

[Ronbo]

Could be anything or it could be nothing. Running the health report couldn't hurt.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[AlanBDahl]

Thus in why I prefer cars without electronics. My Miata's given me mostly trouble-free service for 300k miles without all that junk. I'll take a car without a check engine light every time.

 

[AlanBDahl]

The towing company Ford sent out refused to take the car to the dealership but rather wanted it to sit in their impound lot overnight, presumably to inflate the charges. I didn’t want them to load and unload the car again or to have it sit in a sketchy tow company’s lot overnight so I sent them on their way. Waiting to see if they can find another tow company. Not very happy with Ford Roadside Assistance right now. My GM roadside assistance experience a few years ago was stellar by comparison. Not too happy with Ford at the moment...

 

[JustinP]

To my knowledge, no one has been able to reset the oil life indicator, until it reaches 0%, so if the oil was changed earlier than that light, it may just think you needed a change. Like said above, a vehicle health report will reveal that. And if the oil life is 0%, resetting the light isn't difficult.

 

[AlanBDahl]

Yes, the problem is that the vehicle health report can't be generated without the engine running which is not what you want to do if the issue is serious. A bit of a catch-22 there.

 

[WScottCross]

If the light isn't flashing, the problem isn't serious. That's what I was told by my dealership.

 

[AlanBDahl]

I think the manual could be clearer on the meaning of this light. You have three or four possible combinations of the service engine and check engine lights, some of which are serious and some not. I'd rather just have an indicator that says either "drive to dealer" or "pull over and stop". The current system just creates confusion for everyone.

 

[WScottCross]

Agreed. The indicator solid equates to "drive to dealer" and flashing means "pull over and stop". It's not very intuitive, but that's what modern cars have come to use as the standard.

 

[mrtn]

From what I understand...correct me if I'm wrong, but from other members having issues I gathered that if there was an issue with the car that would be detrimental to the engine then the car would shut off and put itself in a 'preservation mode' not allowing it to be started?

 

[JustinP]

I don't think any car will shut down, unless something fails that is needed for it to run, because it'd be a safety issue if it died when crossing traffic. It does have a limp mode though. It should limit rpms, and power output to prevent damage. I'm not sure of the preventing restart part.

 

[mrtn]

I don't think any car will shut down, unless something fails that is needed for it to run, because it'd be a safety issue if it died when crossing traffic. It does have a limp mode though. It should limit rpms, and power output to prevent damage. I'm not sure of the preventing restart part.

Maybe it's the limp mode I'm thinking of

 

[[email protected]]

The towing company Ford sent out refused to take the car to the dealership but rather wanted it to sit in their impound lot overnight, presumably to inflate the charges. I didn’t want them to load and unload the car again or to have it sit in a sketchy tow company’s lot overnight so I sent them on their way. Waiting to see if they can find another tow company. Not very happy with Ford Roadside Assistance right now. My GM roadside assistance experience a few years ago was stellar by comparison. Not too happy with Ford at the moment...

It's all about where you are and which towing companies are available, my dad had to have his Expedition picked up in a small town in Northern Minnesota to a dealership 40 miles away on a Sunday and the towing company had no issues getting it done and dropping the car while the dealership was closed.

It's not like Ford or GM has their own fleet of tow trucks stationed around the country waiting to haul cars.

Any update on the car yet?

-Steve

 

[[email protected]]

If the light isn't flashing, the problem isn't serious. That's what I was told by my dealership.

That's correct, light on means get to a dealer. Light flashing means pull over and shut it off.

-Steve

 

[AlanBDahl]

Perhaps but in my area there are dozens of towing companies and they can avoid doing business with the sketchy ones.

 

[[email protected]]

Perhaps but in my area there are dozens of towing companies and they can avoid doing business with the sketchy ones.

Report the towing company to the roadside assistance center, no clue how many complaints it takes to get a towing company off the list but if you don't tell them they won't know.

-Steve

 

[Shedean]

2014 Fiesta ST, 20,500 miles, all stock.

This am I started my car as usual, drive the two blocks to the main road and idled for about 3 minutes because of unusually heavy traffic. I then accelerated briskly onto the highway and immediately the wrench light came on. I turned around at the first opportunity and swapped the Fiesta for my very reliable 300,000 mile Miata.

I stopped at the dealer on the way to work and arranged for them to look at the car tomorrow. They and the 800 number suggested towing it so that's what I'll do when I get home tonight. The dealer had the car just a week ago to fix a seat rattle and install a new cabin air filter. At that time they performed the standard inspection and noted no issues. The oil was last changed at the same dealer perhaps 1,000 miles ago.

Any idea what the issue could be? I'm hoping it's just electrical but my understanding is that the wrench could indicate bigger problems? Would a vehicle health report help any in diagnosis?

 

[Shedean]

For others having this problem & have recently had their oil changed. Put key in the ignition turn it without starting the car put your feet on the break & gas petal for 20-25 seconds this will reset the oil chances are the place that changed the oil didn't reset it.

 

[9]

There is no key...

 

[madhatter]

hit the ignition button but do not start the car. accomplishes the same thing. then do the gas/brake pedals until the light goes off.

<--worked for me