Throttle/Powertrain Wrench Light

Hi Ed

I'm getting a wrench and service engine soon message every once in a while with no SCII codes also. When I cycle the key on and off, everything clears. I ask the expert Desertdog or his name Carl if there was a way we could program the SGII Xgauge to give us a better scan of the FEH/MMH trouble codes. Carl is checking with Ron Delong who invented the SG, but he thinks we can. Here is his message to me of what to do when you get a message with no SGII code:

"The next time you get a message, use your Sg to send a mode 3 request. MORE>MORE>CMNDS then enter 03 in one of the memories and hit send. If you get back 4300, the problem is with a module other than the Pcm . Or, you can edit a memory in the CMNDS and put 220200 in and hit send. That should give you the number of stored and pending DTCs. Hopefully I can get up with Ron and he can tell me if accessing the other module DTCs is possible like I think it is."

Hope this helps!

GaryG

Ed, it's hard to say what the problem is, but it could be a $12 relay acting up because of all those shutdowns and restarts. I had to replace 3 relays I think for this reason after I had used a technique called Forced Auto Stop (FAS) for about 6 months. This technique is used by many hypermilers who turn their engines off in neutral and coast to a lower speed and restart. It's also a technique used in Pulse (accelerate) and Glide in neutral with the engine off.

The Ford tech said I had so many codes stored in my PCM, they couldn't determine the problem. It cost me ~$1,200 for 3 tows to the dealership and hours spent to find the problem. I now carry a spare relay and don't FAS anymore.

You might want to purchase one of these relays and exchange one at a time to see if this solves your problem. My service engine soon light had been coming on and resetting till the relay went completely bad and would not let me start the FEH.

Here is a thread I posted on CleanMPG.com that gives all the details with pictures of the relays and there location:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6882

Of course if Carl passes on any info on the SG codes, I pass that on here for everyone if he doesn't.

GaryG

Thanks for the update ED. I looked at the repair manual and this is what I found. A DTC is flagged when the HV battery temperature varies from the DTC window range -40F to 135F degrees. Also, a failure of any of the internal HVTB climate control components/circuitry causes a DTC to be flagged.

The Temperature Blend Door Actuator and its circuitry sounds like more of the problem than the HV battery overheating, but I guess it could have. The actuator can be replaced, but the climate control housing has to be removed and the refrigerant has to be recovered.

I'm just wondering if a simple reflash of the Traction Battery Control Module was done so the circuitry would operate properly. BTW, that blend door closes off the outside vent so the A/C can recirculate cold air within the HV battery housing. You can see the blend door by removing the HV battery filter. When I replace the filter (every 20,000 miles), the blend door is always closed with the key off. Make sure you replace the filter at least every 20,000 miles in case the HV battery goes bad under warranty. Keep all paperwork on filter purchases and even that repair work saying the battery overheated because of the actuator or blend door. Ford will look for any reason to void a $7,000 battery warranty as they did with me. It turned out it was those relays and not my battery, but I seen what Ford was trying to do when they thought I had a bad HV battery.

Thanks again for sharing because it can help others learn more about problems in the future.

GaryG

Just had my 08 Mariner Hybrid in for svc today due to the Wrench Light Warning Indicator. I'm so glad that I purchased an extended warranty from my credit union.

Total repair cost? $700 ..... OUCH!

I have been away for awhile, I also have had the Wrench warning light pop on about 6 times over the past 6 months. I have a '08 MMH with 55K miles. I do not remember any charge for replacing the battery air filter and am sure Ford would have charged and duly noted it. So where and how do I change it and is there a cabin air filter too?

The most common cause of the "wrench light" coming on is that the HIV battery air filter needs replacing. It's located under a plastic cover on the drivers side cargo compartment wall. Air is brought in through a vent that part of the back driver's side window and it is used to carry away the heat from the HIV battery.

A common misconception is the air cools the battery. Actually, the air carries away the heat collected by the HIV battery's air conditioning system and a plugged filter will cause the HIV battery's air conditioning system to overheat, putting a strain on the air conditioning system and on the HIV battery.

This filter may be the most important air filter in an Escape Hybrid, considering the potential cost of failure of the HIV air conditioner or the HIV battery. Don't fool around cleaning the filter. Get it replaced as often as needed, which will vary depending upon here you live and the season.

I have been getting the intermittent wrench light, and fully believe it may have something to do with the vent actuator. I have changed the filter a few times, never really dirty. This light never started like this until after the car was serviced and the hybrid drive electric water pump was worked on by a mechanic. I told them it started happening shortly after they worked on it, but since it stores no codes and never comes on for them and shows nothing whiles its on that my full scanner can read, they could not determine anything for them to fix. So its my problem to guess at. I'm going to try changing this vent door actuator.

I have the same problem with the "wrench light" coming on with my 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid (front wheel drive), 40,000 miles. It came on once and stayed on for 15 minutes. After I parked and restarted the car it has not come on again. I went to Ford service and they hooked it up to a computer and told me all codes were normal and they could not do anything unless I bring it in while the wrench light is still on. Anyone have suggestions?

My 2007 ford escape hybrid has been indicating "stop safely now", I changed the electric motor pump but it has recurred. any ideas
I have done about 53000 miles