Ford Explorer Wrench Light Reset – Here's How You Do This

Most Ford vehicles, especially the 4WD and AWD ones have a wrench light. Various issues can trigger the wrench light on. Also, there are multiple ways to reset the warning light and turn it off.

To reset the wrench light on your Ford Explorer, you can turn the accessory mode, step on your brake and gas at the same time for about 30 seconds, start the vehicle and the wrench light should go off.

Wrench light highlights

• Common reasons:powertrain problem, throttle control issue
• How to fix:check the codes
• Possible consequences:possible failure of the engine, AWD, or transmission
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Not recommended
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$150-$400

What Does it Mean When a Wrench Light Comes On in a Ford Explorer?

As far back as the 1960s, car dealerships used postcards to remind car owners of maintenance. These postcards usually came at intervals in relation to the car model and manufacturer. Today, the wrench light serves as a modern maintenance reminder system. 

The wrench light is a yellow sign with a wrench shape on the dashboard. While you can find the wrench light on most modern cars, the meaning differs according to the manufacturer and model. 

Once the wrench light illuminates on a Ford Explorer, it means the vehicle is due for maintenance. Many other issues can make the wrench light come on. Once you take the vehicle to an auto shop, the technicians will diagnose the problem and fix it. 

What Causes the Wrench Light to Come on in a Ford Explorer?

Apart from being a maintenance reminder system, the wrench light also serves to alert drivers of various problems in the car. These problems can be minor or major. Some issues that can trigger the wrench light include:

1) Powertrain Malfunction

The powertrain is one of the most important parts of a car. Without a working powertrain, your vehicle would not be mobile. If you're not aware, a powertrain comprises the engine, axle, transmission, and differential. 

A powertrain or wheel drive malfunction is one of the foremost issues that can make the wrench light turn on. Some symptoms of bad wheel drive are decreased speed, overheating, and odd handling. 

If you don't fix the powertrain on time, you'll start hearing growling noises under your bonnet. 

2) Weak Voltage

If the wrench light illuminates and you notice that the car's electrical components are slow, weak voltage is probably the cause. Several things such as poor connection at the battery terminals, faulty alternator, and old battery can be responsible for low voltage. 

You can fix low voltage by either jump starting, recharging, or replacing the car battery. 

3) Low Boost Pressure

The Explorer comes with Ford's EcoBoost engine across different model years. Low boost pressure is a common problem with turbo engines like the EcoBoost.

In an Explorer model, the wrench light could signify low boost pressure. This particular fault is quite hard to detect. The best way to diagnose low boost is through a technician. 

Turbo issues are costly but it's safer to fix them quickly. Failure to fix a low boost can lead to a faulty catalytic converter. As you know, catalytic converters are also expensive to repair. 

4) Failing Oil Cooler

The oil cooler is exactly what it sounds like. With the amount of friction involved in the engine's operations, lubrication is essential. However, lubricating oils won't be of much help if they're hot.

That's where the oil cooler comes in. As oil moves through hoses, the oil cooler cools it down. A failing oil cooler is fatal and can cause engine overheating. 

How Long Can I Drive with the Wrench Light On?

You can't drive for long with the wrench light on. Also, it is unsafe to drive with the wrench light. Once the wrench light comes on in an Explorer, the vehicle may even enter a fail-safe mode. 

Some features of the fail-safe mode include limited power and performance. The fail-safe mode or limp mode forces the driver to slowly make their way to the service shop. In some cases, the wrench light goes off and the car continues to run normally.

However, without fixing the problem, the wrench light will return later.

What Happens If I Ignore the Wrench Light?

As I've said earlier, the wrench light can be a sign of various problems. In Ford vehicles, these problems are mostly serious. If you don't take your car for a check-up, you wouldn't find out the issue. 

Ignoring the wrench light will surely lead to more damage and costly repairs. Depending on the initial fault, your car might even break down. 

How Do I Reset My Ford Explorer Wrench Light?

There are different methods you can employ to reset your wrench light. Some of them are basic while others are more technical. You can reset your Explorer wrench light with the methods below. 

Method 1

This method is simple and doesn't require any technical knowledge. To reset your wrench light:

• Turn your car key to the accessory position. This turns on the car accessories while the engine systems remain off.
• Next, step on the brakes and gas for 30 seconds.
• Turn on the car and check the dashboard. The wrench light icon should be off.

Method 2

For this method, you need to be able to locate your battery terminals. Follow the steps below to reset your wrench light:

• Turn off the ignition
• Open your hood and locate the car battery.
• Carefully disconnect the negative terminal first to lessen the risk of electrical sparks.
• Then disconnect the positive terminal.
• Wait for 5 minutes, then reconnect the battery.

Method 3

You need an OBD2 scanner for this method. With the OBD2 scanner, you can read and troubleshoot error codes on your vehicle. To reset the wrench light with an OBD2 scanner:

• Connect the scanner to your car's OBD port. You can find the Ford Explorer's OBD port under the dashboard near the steering wheel.
• Turn on the vehicle
• Tap the "READ" button on the scanner to check for error codes.
• Next, decode the error codes you got.
• Fix the car's problem based on the codes.
• Tap the "ERASE" button on the scanner to clear the codes.
• Turn off the ignition
• Restart the car and monitor the wrench light while driving. The light will go off after a while.