Ford Fusion Powertrain Fault [Wrench Light Displayed] – What To Do?

The Ford Fusion is a medium-sized sedan that is comfortable, fuel-efficient, and fun to drive. When the wrench light on your dashboard illuminates, it’s a warning something is wrong with your vehicle. What could be wrong and how do you solve the problem? We have conducted in-depth research for you.

When the wrench light in your Ford Fusion lights up, it means there is something wrong with the powertrain. Thus, you will either have your car towed to an auto shop or drive it to a safe place from where it can be towed.

Keep reading to unravel what the wrench light means, and what to do when it lights up. Learn what causes this light to come on, and how you much it costs to repair the power train of a Ford Fusion. 

What To Do When Your Ford Fusion Wrench Light Turns On

The wrench light is an important warning system that indicates there is a problem with the powertrain of your vehicle. 

A powertrain is an assembly in your vehicle that is responsible for pushing your vehicle forward. The parts that make up this assembly include the engine, transmission, differential, axles, and driveshaft. 

When the powertrain in your vehicle has a problem, the wrench light will illuminate. It’s crucial you take this seriously because driving with this light on can lead to more expensive repairs. 

But, still, your car may go into a Fail-safe Mode immediately after the powertrain malfunction light comes on. Once it is activated, you will notice the speed has been reduced to between 35mph and 45mph. This happens to protect against any further damage to the powertrain.

The Fail-Safe Mode may further disable the ignition and fuel system. The reduced speed at least allows you to drive safely away from the road, from where it can be towed. Or alternatively, drive into an auto garage if you are near one. 

So, what exactly should you do when the wrench light comes on? Let’s find out more below:

Call A Towing Company

It is stressful when your vehicle experiences a powertrain problem in the middle of the highway. 

After driving your car away from the main road and onto the side or a safe area, you may call a towing company. They will either use the chain or flatbed method to tow your car. 

Once they get to the auto garage, they will use the appropriate OBD2 scanner to find out what exactly is wrong with the powertrain. It will generate a specific code that identifies a specific issue. The mechanics will then fix your car. 

Drive The Car 

Alternatively, you could decide to drive your car slowly to the nearest auto garage. You may save some money, but it might take you more time to reach there. But, if you are far away even from the nearest auto garage, your only option is to call a towing company.

Restart Your Car

You still have another option of bringing your car to a complete stop, and then restarting your engine. This could temporarily solve the problem in your car, giving you time before the wrench light turns on again. However, the time may be too short drive to an auto mechanic shop. 

What Causes The Powertrain Of Your Ford Fusion To Malfunction?

As seen earlier, the powertrain is made of several components. These components can malfunction, causing the wrench light to come on. Let us look at some components, and how they can cause the wrench malfunction light to come on. 

The Engine

The engine is the heart of your vehicle. It is a complex machine that burns fuel to produce power. This power is directed to the powertrain that propels the wheels to push your car forward.  

Some of the reasons the engine can cause the powertrain to fail include:

Oil Not Regularly Changed

According to the experts, it’s crucial to change the oil in a Ford Fusion every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. However, this is possible if you operate your vehicle in normal driving conditions. 

The opposite is true if you drive in severe conditions, including rough terrain, carrying heavy loads, or driving in extreme temperatures. In such a case, you’ll need to change oil every 3,000 to 7,500 miles. 

Oil deteriorates with time. That is why you should regularly change the oil. When you take too long, it starts turning into sludge. It makes the moving parts of your engine work harder than usual. This can cause your car to use more fuel than it normally does. 

The more you delay changing the oil, the more your car may experience engine failure. This is because the oil that turns into sludge cannot draw heat from the engine. Thus, the engine overheats, or the gasket blows up.

Using Water As Coolant

It is not advisable to use water as a coolant. Water will oxidize not only the radiator but also the metal moving parts causing rust to rust. This leads to the radiator, engine block, and cylinder heads being damaged by the rust. 

You can find this Ford Fusion cylinder head on Amazon.

The cylinder head and engine block are part of the engine, meaning it will lose its efficiency and eventually fail. 

The Transmission

The transmission is also complex. It transforms the power from the engine to the wheels. Below are some ways it can interfere with the performance of the transmission:

Low Transmission Fluid 

Find this Mercon automatic transmission fluid pn Amazon suitable for a Ford Fusion

Low levels of transmission fluid can cause the transmission to overheat. When that happens, it cannot cool the engine, causing damage to the transmission. And, if the repairs are delayed, it may fail altogether. 

Faulty Solenoids

Check out this solenoid on Amazon suitable for a Ford Fusion.

Solenoids control the flow of transmission fluid. The engine sends signals to the solenoids to either open or close. If this process slows down because the solenoid is faulty, then you may experience a delay in shifting the gears. They could also slip, and even fail. 

The Differential

When you turn your car, the outer wheel turns more than the wheel on the opposite axle. This is possible because of the differential. It provides each wheel with the required torque. Without a differential, a car can spin continuously in a circle. 

The differential can get damaged by driving roughly, causing wear and tear. When this happens, the differential cannot effectively transmit power to the shafts. The differential will not working properly, disrupting the normal function of the transmission, causing the wrench light to illuminate. 

The Cost Of Repairing The Powertrain Of Your Car

If your car needs to be towed, you are likely to pay between $2.5 and $7 per mile. So, if you have to tow your car for 5 miles, the cost ranges from $35 to $125, and up to $600 for 100 miles.

Generally, the powertrain module control of a Ford Fusion costs between $69 and $88. Labor to replace it costs between $69 and $88.

Lighter jobs to repair the differential such as replacing the oil seal or replacing the backlash costs between $400 to $800. Sometimes, the job may be more complex requiring the differential to be replaced. Typically, the cost ranges from $400 to $800, with around $917 for a Ford Fusion.

It normally costs between $15 and $100 for a single solenoid depending on the make and model of your car. However, expect to pay between $15 to $100 for a single transmission shift solenoid. The price for a Ford Fusion solenoid ranges from $57 and $62, while the labor to replace it costs between $65 and $62.

In Closing

The parts that make up your powertrain include the engine, transmission, axle, differential, and driveshaft. When any of these parts malfunction, the wrench light comes on.

You shouldn’t drive with this light on, otherwise, your car may experience more damage. When this happens, it is best to pull your car to the side and call a tow company. Or if you can drive to the nearest auto garage.

The best way for a mechanic to check which part of your powertrain is faulty is by using an OBD2 scanner. This scanner can provide information on which part of the powertrain is not working.

The costs to repair the powertrain of your vehicle depends on which part is faulty and the magnitude of job.

Find more of our previous posts below that you may be interested in:

Can You Drive With Powertrain Light On

Does My Truck Have A Tow Package