Wrench icon 2007

[7FordExpedition]

I have an 07 Eddie Bauer. From time to time all the gauges light up, go off, light up, go off, spedo rotates from what ever speed I am doing to 0 and back, the trac system icon comes on and it flashes back and forth from that to the wrench.

Then it goes into survival mode and the wrench stays on and I limp home or to a Ford dealer shop. Sometimes I can stop, turn it off and let it sit for a minute then start it up and it will be fine. Often time the engine light will come on and stay on for several off/on cycles. Last time it did this it I got it to a Ford dealer while it was happening. They kept it 7 days, consulted with Ford Ford, replaced the ABS mod and said it was fixed! Hurray! $1100 dollar bill and 20 gallons of gas they used up driving it around to check it and stuff.

Picked the car up last evening around closing time as they asked me to do. 10 miles down the road ... wrench icon comes on, stayed on, survival mode.

I did take it back to them this morning but I was wondering if anyone else has had this kind of problem. Started doing this in October of last year and 3 dealers from Hondo Texas to Aberdeen North Carolina have tried to fix it with no luck.

 

[Bedrck47]

have you had the codes read

 

[7FordExpedition]

have you had the codes read

Yes, the dealer even hooked it up to a laptop and drove it around for an hour while doing something.

They eventually boiled it down to the ABS module and replaced that. Unfortunately that did not work and they have it now, trying to figure it out.

 

[Bedrck47]

The wrench reconfigurable telltale indicator is never/always on

Electronic throttle concern
Transmission concern
Four wheel drive (4WD) concern (if equipped)
Instrument cluster

the following was copied from the 2007 ford workshop manual

Normal Operation
The wrench reconfigurable telltale can be turned on by any one of three modules. The powertrain control module (PCM) provides the electronic throttle control status, the transmission control module (TCM) provides transmission status and the four wheel drive (4WD) control module (if equipped) provides a status of the 4WD system to the instrument cluster. Each module monitors the powertrain for their respective function and provides the instrument cluster with the operating status over the high speed controller area network (HS-CAN) communication bus. When a fault condition exists in any of the monitored systems, the PCM, TCM or 4WD (if equipped) control modules provide the instrument cluster with a message to turn on the wrench warning indicator.

If the electronic throttle control message is missing or if the data is deemed invalid by the instrument cluster for greater than 5 seconds, the instrument cluster sets DTC U0100 and defaults the wrench reconfigurable telltale ON. If the O/D off message is missing or invalid for greater than 5 seconds, the instrument cluster sets DTC U0101 and defaults the wrench reconfigurable telltale ON. If equipped with 4WD and the 4WD status message is missing or invalid for more than 5 seconds, the instrument cluster sets DTC U0102 and defaults the wrench reconfigurable telltale ON.

NOTE: If U0100 is set in the instrument cluster other symptoms may also be present such as an inoperative speedometer, tachometer or temperature gauge. If U0101 is set, other symptoms may include the O/D off indicator ON. If DTC U0102 is set, other symptoms may include the 4x4, 4x4 LOW or 4x4 AUTO reconfigurable telltales may be inoperative.

Possible Causes
Electronic throttle control concern
Transmission concern
4WD concern (if equipped)
Instrument cluster

 

[Bedrck47]

anytime you have codes read it is best to write the codes down so you can look them up or receive help here on the forum

also kindly update your signature line to show your expy's information this can be done in the user CP sections that helps to give you better advice specific to your year and model

 

[7FordExpedition]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the wrench icon does display and stays on until I shut the car off. It may not supposed to do that but it has happened before and it did last evening.

Often times the trac system icon and the wrench switch back and forth for a while.

I will check with Crossroads Ford for the codes. They told me they narrowed it down from the codes to 4 modules. They consulted with who ever Ford has for a dealer to consult with and decided it was the ABS module which they replaced and I picked it up from them yesterday evening.

Like I said above, 10 miles and it did it again. I took it back and they have it now.

I will give them a call and see what codes they got.

 

[Bedrck47]

post the codes when you get them then I will check the manual and post any information on the codes

 

[7FordExpedition]

I emailed the dealer asking for the code/info. They didn't sound too happy about it but they said they would. Will post when/if I get them.

Thanks!

 

[Bedrck47]

that's the kind of response that I hate.
Them not being happy to give you information that you most likely paid a high price, for them doing the work

 

[stamp11127]

That dealer doesn't have a tech that can determine the cause.
It really bunches up my shorts when I hear crap like your getting from a dealer. The software they should have can look at live data as it is happening. What that means is you can see the incorrect data that is triggering the wrench icon.

In laymen terms here is what is happening: The ecm asks the modules how they are doing. All but one reply in english, the other is mumbling some nonsense. The ecm says "what?" and the reply is the same babble. Then the ecm says "screw this and turns the wrench icon on". It also logs a code of the offending babble.
Techs are then supposed to have enough sense to look in the direction that the code is saying where the problem lies.

They owe you for a refund on the abs "repair" since it isn't fixed and that wasn't a problem.

The trac system icon and the wrench icon are a clue to the problem.

The "I've narrowed it down to 4 modules bs" is bs. A good tech narrows it down to the failing part and verifies the failure. Parts tossers nail you for abs repairs that aren't necessary.

Have you or anybody else added anything into any electrical harness?

 

[7FordExpedition]

No, haven't added anything electronic or otherwise. Have not messed with the wiring or harnesses. This started soon after I bought it from the Ford dealer in Hondo, Texas. They worked on it for a week then gave up, reprogrammed the computer (I have no idea what that meant) and gave it back. Ran OK for about a week and then it started doing it again when I was on my way home to North Carolina. What we found is if we turned it off, sit for a minute and started it back up it would be fine. Sometimes for months. Dealers in our home area were not able to find anything. Last week it started again but would not reset. Kept showing the wrench icon, lights, speedo problem and gauges going goofy and survival mode. Got it into the dealer and this is where we have been for the last 8 going on 9 days. Like I said in the earlier post, contacted the dealer for the codes. They have not been forth coming. Tried twice. I don't think they are gonna give me the codes.

I have my doubts that they know what they are doing but I really don't have another dealer I can take it to. So, I am hoping for the best.

 

[stamp11127]

Has the message center ever displayed any notifications about the abs system?

 

[stamp11127]

This is from the Ford Service manual:

Reconfigurable Telltale Indicators

Reconfigurable telltale indicators illuminate in the message center and replace the typical indicator and warning lamps and use the same iconic representation that were previously viewed as indicators or warning indicators in the instrument cluster. The systems that use reconfigurable telltale indicators include:

Powertrain malfunction
Transmission (wrench)
Electronic throttle control (wrench)
4x4 (wrench)
Charging (battery)
Engine oil pressure
Engine over-temperature (failsafe)
Low fuel
Check fuel cap
Low windshield washer fluid
Traction control
Four wheel drive (4WD)
4x4 LOW
4x4
4x4 AUTO
Door ajar

Gee, shouldn't be that hard to determine since they have (wrench) next to what will cause that indicator to come on. I count 3 modules that will light the wrench and they have narrowed it down to 4. Hmmm....

 

[7FordExpedition]

Codes

Has the message center ever displayed any notifications about the abs system?

No, but the brake and ABS icon will flash on and off with other icons when the whole thing lights up. Never comes on by it's self. Never stays on for any length of time.

The dealer finally emailed me the codes that they read. I don't know if this is what they read last week or yesterday after they 'fixed' it and I had to take it back.

U0001, U0100, U0121, U0155

 

[Bedrck47]

U0155 - Lost Communication With Instrument Panel Cluster Control Module
Description: Missing message concerns are logged by a module upon failure to receive a message from another module within a defined retry period.
Possible Causes: Open VPWR circuit to the sending module
Open GND circuit to the sending module
Open network circuits to the sending module

Diagnostic Aids: Carry out the diagnostics for the associated network module.
Application Key On Engine Off Key On Engine Running Continuous Memory
All Refer to the Workshop Manual Section 413-01, Instrument Cluster.


U0121 - Lost Communication With The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Control Module
Description: The powertrain control module (PCM) continuously monitors the controller area network (CAN) for messages from the ABS. This DTC sets when the PCM fails to receive the ABS message within the defined amount of time.
Possible Causes: Damaged CAN communication bus circuit

Diagnostic Aids: Network DTC concerns occur during module-to-module communication. For additional description and operation of the vehicle communication network, refer to the Workshop Manual Section 418-00, Module Communications Network.
Application Key On Engine Off Key On Engine Running Continuous Memory
All —

U0100 Lost Communication With ECM/PCM ABS Module REPAIR all other DTCs first. If DTC U0100 is still present REFER to Section 418-00 to diagnose the high speed communication area network (HS-CAN) bus.

U0001 High Speed CAN Communication Bus ABS Module REFER to Section 418-00 to diagnose the high speed communication area network (HS-CAN) bus.

 

[Bedrck47]

the code U0155 is for engine/transmission systems

all the other codes were for the ABS system

 

[stamp11127]

One common element is the network harness (CAN - High Speed Bus) same idea as the wires in your house that give you internet access.
When the connection(network) goes down you don't get on the internet. The modules are the websites you access, when they go down you still are able to access other sites but not theirs.

Another common element is the instrument cluster. I would expect the cluster to be high dollar for a replacement. Don't toss parts at this baby. If the dealer wants to replace it ask them to show you where it has failed and how they proved the failure. There are a few companies that repair ecms and clusters, you may want to consider having it tested if the harness checks out.

In layman terms you may have a bad electrical connection, a failing instrument cluster or just corroded connectors in the plugs of the can bus(network) harness. At this point it will get expensive just due to the amount of time involved in finding where the cause is.

You can save some bucks if you are able to do the basic work yourself and send the cluster out to be checked. You can check the harness with a good meter. I would focus on the harness first but I will tell you they can be a pain. Especially if it requires replacement. This is the one harness that you should not "fix or connect into".

Roxxy1225 this is going to be a good one - too bad they are over in NC and not closer.

 

[Bedrck47]

your in Georgia I am in PA if we meet in the middle that would be NC

 

[Bedrck47]

Looking at the manual it appears that the testing procedures for U0155 can be very involved

 

[7FordExpedition]

Looking at the manual it appears that the testing procedures for U0155 can be very involved

Just my luck I guess. I wish I had more confidence in the dealer's capabilities.