Ford F150 Wrench Light Displayed But No Acceleration – What To Do?

A vehicle has a lot of sensors to help keep track if a specific component is working correctly. If a part is faulty, your vehicle will typically flash or display a symbol on your dashboard. With the help of experts, we will help you determine what to do when your Ford F150 stops acceleration after displaying a wrench light.

Seeing your dash displaying the wrench light could mean something is wrong with your powertrain or throttle control. The wrench icon displayed could explain why you are not accelerating at the truck's average speed or none at all.

It would be best to pull over somewhere safe and call a towing service. You must not take any problems with a vehicle's acceleration or drivability lightly since this could cause an accident if your car suddenly stops working while on the road. Read below for more information about the Ford F150 displaying a wrench light.

Brand new Ford F150 at a dealership, Ford F150 Wrench Light Displayed But No Acceleration - What To Do?

What Does The Wrench Icon Mean On A Ford F150

The wrench icon is how your vehicle notifies you that something may be wrong with it. You shouldn't disregard this warning since any problems that may come with this icon can ultimately damage your vehicle.

There can be a lot of factors that can cause your Ford F1 to display a wrench icon on its dashboard. But you can narrow this down if you consider that the vehicle is losing acceleration while the wrench icon is displayed.

White modified Ford F150 parked on a street

Below are the common reasons you lose acceleration while the wrench icon is on display.

Drivetrain

A drivetrain consists of parts such as the vehicle's engine, transmission, and differential. If there are any problems with the wiring of the power train, this can trigger your vehicle to display the wrench icon.

Problems that may occur with any of the drivetrain parts can trigger your vehicle's sensors to display the wrench light, and there is a significant possibility your truck will go into limp mode.

Limp mode is when your car reduces or controls the amount of power it can deliver. When your vehicle goes into limp mode, it is trying to prevent any other damages that may occur; you will notice that you are in the limp mode because of how the car will feel. 

You will lose significant power and acceleration since your vehicle limits you. If this happens, it's best to use your remaining power to get to a safe place to call for a mechanic or towing service.

Throttle Body

You can find your car's throttle body between your air intake piping and intake manifold. The throttle body is a valve that can control the amount of air that goes into your vehicle's engine. 

If your vehicle's sensor detects something wrong, this can also trigger your car to go into limp mode, hindering you from accelerating normally. Once your vehicle goes into limp mode, find a safe place to park your car and call for a tow.

You may notice that your vehicle will not shift gears automatically when in limp mode unless you do it yourself. One trick you can do is to turn off your vehicle for a while to see if your car is still getting the wrench icon and limp mode when you turn it back on. 

Note that this is not a solution to fix it completely but a quick solution to get your vehicle moving or brought to a mechanic. It's still best to have a professional look over your car to pinpoint the exact problem.

How Powerful Are Ford F150 Engines

Having a vehicle with power is not only fun, but it can be pretty practical too. Pushing your gas pedal to accelerate quickly is quite enjoyable, especially if you like the adrenalin rush that comes with it. 

For practical use, you can use your vehicle's power for overtaking or getting up to speed to merge into traffic and even up steep areas. One of the most practical uses for a powerful car is the ability to haul or tow things.

Below you can find the different engines and their specifications across all the trims of the Ford F150.

  • 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 - This engine pushes out 290 hp and 265 lb-ft. It also has a max towing capacity of 8,200 lbs and a max payload capacity of 1,985 lbs. 
  • 2.7L EcoBoost Twin-Turbocharged V6 - This engine pushes out 325 hp and 400 lb-ft. It also has a max towing capacity of 10,100 lbs and a max payload capacity of 2,480 lbs. 
  • 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 - This engine pushes out 400 hp and 410 lb-ft. It also has a max towing capacity of 13,000 lbs and a max payload capacity of 3,325 lbs. 
  • 3.5L EcoBoost Twin-Turbocharged V6 - This engine pushes out 400 hp and 500 lb-ft. It also has a max towing capacity of 14,000 lbs and a max payload capacity of 3,250 lbs. 
  • 3.5L PowerBoost™ Full Hybrid V6 - This engine pushes out 430 hp and 570 lb-ft. It also has a max towing capacity of 12,700 lbs and a max payload capacity of 2,1200 lbs. 
  • High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost® Twin-Turbocharged V6 - This engine pushes out 450 hp and 510 lb-ft. It also has a max towing capacity of 8,200 lbs and a max payload capacity of 1,400 lbs. 

Regarding trucks, it's great to have a lot of torque since this will help you with hauling and towing, while horsepower is great for speed. Note that you should look at not only the engine of a vehicle but also its interior and exterior features since there are a lot of trims for the Ford F150.

What Are Other Trucks Do Ford Offer Besides The F150

Ford F150s parked at a dealership

Ford has a decent lineup when it comes to their trucks. Right now, you can choose from five trucks(including the F150) ranging from gas, diesel, hybrid, and fully electric. Though Ford only has five trucks in its lineup, those trucks have a ton of available trims.

Below are the other trucks Ford offer besides the F150.

Ford Maverick

Brand new compact Ford Maverick

The Maverick is Ford's answer to the need for a smaller and affordable truck. The Ford Maverick is an excellent choice for someone who does not want a large truck; though this truck is not that large, you still get some practicality out of its bed.

Some of the available trim for the Maverick are:

  • Ford Maverick XL
  • Ford Maverick XLT
  • Ford Maverick LARIAT

The Maverick is an excellent alternative to an SUV if you're in the market. You also have an option to get a hybrid or 4-cylinder engine; also, you can choose whether to go FWD or AWD.

Ford Ranger

2020 Orange Ford Ranger pickup truck at a dealership

The Ford Ranger is one of Ford's best-selling midsized trucks in the US and other countries. The Ranger is a versatile truck that is fun and practical to drive. If you don't want a large truck but want something with a bit of power for hauling or towing, the Ranger is a good choice.

Some of the available trim for the Maverick are:

  • Ford Ranger XL
  • Ford Ranger XLT
  • Ford Ranger LARIAT 

With the Ford Ranger, you get a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, and you have the option to go 2WD or 4WD. The flexibility of this truck is excellent whether you'll use it for daily driving or work.

Ford F150 Lightning

The F150 Lightning is Ford's entry into the fully electric truck market. The F150 Lightning is a good option for someone looking for a decent electric truck. With the F150 Lightning, you get all room of a typical-sized truck just with an electric engine.

Some of the available trim for the Maverick are:

  • Ford F150 Lightning Pro
  • Ford F150 Lightning XLT
  • Ford F150 Lightning LARIAT
  • Ford F150 Lightning Platinum

The F150 Lightning can also be fun to drive because of its comfort features and the performance it delivers. The only downside with this truck would probably be its steep price; other than that, this is an efficient electric truck to own.

Ford Super Duty

Ford F-250 display at a dealership. The Ford F250 is available in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum models.

The Super Duty is Ford's heavy-duty truck line. You can use these trucks for daily driving, but it is best to use them for work because of the power they put out and their large size. These trucks are great to take off-road and used to haul or tow stuff around.

The Ford Super Duty has a lot of trucks in its lineup; here are the available trims offered by Ford right now.

  • Ford Super Duty F-250 XL/XLT
  • Ford Super Duty F-350 Xl/XLT
  • Ford Super Duty F-450 XL/XLT
  • Ford Super Duty F-250 LARIAT
  • Ford Super DutyF-350 LARIAT
  • Ford Super DutyF-450 LARIAT
  • Ford Super Duty F-250 King Ranch
  • Ford Super DutyF-350 King Ranch
  • Ford Super DutyF-450 King Ranch
  • Ford Super Duty F-250 Platinum
  • Ford Super DutyF-350 Platinum
  • Ford Super DutyF-450 Platinum
  • Ford Super Duty F-250 Limited
  • Ford Super DutyF-350 Limited
  • Ford Super DutyF-450 Limited

The Ford Super Duty line is a huge truck which you can modify the bed for different things such as towing, storage, transport, and many more. Even if they are heavy-duty trucks does not mean they are not comfortable. You can drive a Super Duty daily; you need to consider the vehicle's size before purchasing one.

Closing

Brand new Ford F150 at a dealership

Whenever you see the wrench icon on your dash, your vehicle tries to warn you about something. When you lose power or acceleration while the wrench light is on, this your car is in limp mode. If this ever happens to you, look for a safe spot to stop and call a mechanic or a towing service.

For more automotive topics and tips, check out the following post.

Truck Dies When I Give It Gas – Why And What To Do?

Ford Expedition Stuck In Park – What Could Be Wrong?

 

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