Powertrain Malfunction warning message

[Ric]

This morning after going to fill up at the gas station, I got into my Ranger and pushed the start button. It did not start and flashed a very quick message which I could not read. After a few more attempts to start it, the truck turned over. This was very different then the hundreds of times I’ve started it. A little wrench symbol popped up. I figured it was a maintenance reminder as the truck now has 18,200 miles on it. I noticed I could not set the cruise control. When I got home I checked FordPass and there was a message indicating a Powertrain Malfunction and directing me to take the truck in to have the problem looked at. Has anyone else had this happen? If so, what’s the deal? Thanks in advance.

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[Frenchy]

This is wierd that happened like this. My guess is a bad batch of fuel of a glitch in the PCM. Without DTC' being pulled I have no other ideas.

 

[Anthony]

That happened to me about a year ago. After a key cycle, it never happened again.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/got-a-warning-light-this-morning.4781/

I never did follow up with a dealer like I said in the above thread.

 

[Ric]

That happened to me about a year ago. After a key cycle, it never happened again.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/got-a-warning-light-this-morning.4781/

I never did follow up with a dealer like I said in the above thread.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I went back out to my truck and started it up. The wrench symbol is gone. If it happens again I’ll take it to the dealer. As high tech as my Ranger is a glitch is bound to happen.

 

[OWSportninja]

Just a thought but might want to have the battery checked. These AGM's they put in for the start/stop crap are notorious for not lasting very long. And if the battery is weak it can wreak havoc on the electronics and modules in these trucks and make them do some very odd things.

 

[bamahater]

I had the same issue happen on my truck and also had a pre collision assist not available and hill start assist not available. Took it to the dealer and they found and issue with the accelerator petal and it had to be replaced. Waiting on it to be fixed.

 

[Dahveed]

I had the same issue happen on my truck and also had a pre collision assist not available and hill start assist not available. Took it to the dealer and they found and issue with the accelerator petal and it had to be replaced. Waiting on it to be fixed.

Just had the same thing happen to mine on the way home from picking up my daughter. Started it up, "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available", truck feels like it has no power and the computer has no idea what gear it should be in. Got home and have a pending code: P061B (Internal Control Module Torque Calculation Performance). Looks like I'm calling the dealer in the morning. This happened a few weeks ago too and I got the "Powertrain Malfunction" message as well, but by the time I got home it had cleared itself and I had no codes.

 

[SILK]

Got home and have a pending code: P061B (Internal Control Module Torque Calculation Performance).

Do you have an OBD reader that you got this from, or can you find these codes as they pop up via a menu in the vehicle or in the FordPass app or something?

 

[Frenchy]

Do you have an OBD reader that you got this from, or can you find these codes as they pop up via a menu in the vehicle or in the FordPass app or something?

You need an OBDII reader to get the codes.

 

[Dahveed]

Do you have an OBD reader that you got this from, or can you find these codes as they pop up via a menu in the vehicle or in the FordPass app or something?

Yeah I used an OBD-II reader. I didn't have my laptop on hand to use Forscan, so I'm not sure if any codes were set in modules other than the PCM.

 

[Ric]

This morning after going to fill up at the gas station, I got into my Ranger and pushed the start button. It did not start and flashed a very quick message which I could not read. After a few more attempts to start it, the truck turned over. This was very different then the hundreds of times I’ve started it. A little wrench symbol popped up. I figured it was a maintenance reminder as the truck now has 18,200 miles on it. I noticed I could not set the cruise control. When I got home I checked FordPass and there was a message indicating a Powertrain Malfunction and directing me to take the truck in to have the problem looked at. Has anyone else had this happen? If so, what’s the deal? Thanks in advance.

UPDATE: Took the truck in for the 20,000 maintenance and to have the mystery dissapearing wrench symbol checked. They told me it was a computer glitch and a system update took care of it. Of course, they told me to bring it back if it did it again. I’m not worried. The truck has been great and this was the only problem other than having a bad fuel injector when I bought it. (Ford compensated me well for the bad injector). By the way, I had unused Ford Pass points, which they told me never expire, so the 20,000 maintenance cost me $21.73 out of pocket. Bottom line, I still am over the moon happy with my Ranger.

 

[Dahveed]

UPDATE: Took the truck in for the 20,000 maintenance and to have the mystery dissapearing wrench symbol checked. They told me it was a computer glitch and a system update took care of it. Of course, they told me to bring it back if it did it again. I’m not worried. The truck has been great and this was the only problem other than having a bad fuel injector when I bought it. (Ford compensated me well for the bad injector). By the way, I had unused Ford Pass points, which they told me never expire, so the 20,000 maintenance cost me $21.73 out of pocket. Bottom line, I still am over the moon happy with my Ranger.

I have an appointment for Monday on mine. I'm curious to see what they do. The dealer installed a Roush tune on mine when it was still on the lot. So...the factory tune gone. If they screw up the Roush tune that I paid for as a dealer option...they're going to owe me some money.

 

[Ric]

I have an appointment for Monday on mine. I'm curious to see what they do. The dealer installed a Roush tune on mine when it was still on the lot. So...the factory tune gone. If they screw up the Roush tune that I paid for as a dealer option...they're going to owe me some money.

it will interesting to see what the dealer says and what the fix is.

 

[JMill]

I have an appointment for Monday on mine. I'm curious to see what they do. The dealer installed a Roush tune on mine when it was still on the lot. So...the factory tune gone. If they screw up the Roush tune that I paid for as a dealer option...they're going to owe me some money.

Dahveed, curious to hear what you find out from this. I know this is a Ranger forum, but I have an Expedition that is having the same issue as you. First had the "Pre-collision Avoidance" and "Powertrain Malfunction" errors come up in January while driving. Nothing else anywhere near me when the Collision warning came up. The power was significantly reduced and almost felt like the trans was slipping. Once I turned off the car and restarted it, everything was fine. Took to the shop but the codes were already reset (I dont have OBD reader). Had it again this weekend, and same issue- codes were gone when I brought it in today to the dealership.

 

[Dahveed]

it will interesting to see what the dealer says and what the fix is.

Dahveed, curious to hear what you find out from this. I know this is a Ranger forum, but I have an Expedition that is having the same issue as you. First had the "Pre-collision Avoidance" and "Powertrain Malfunction" errors come up in January while driving. Nothing else anywhere near me when the Collision warning came up. The power was significantly reduced and almost felt like the trans was slipping. Once I turned off the car and restarted it, everything was fine. Took to the shop but the codes were already reset (I dont have OBD reader). Had it again this weekend, and same issue- codes were gone when I brought it in today to the dealership.

Just got the call. Supposedly they found codes. I'll be interested to see the full notes if they'll give them to me. Service advisor said they updated the PCM to the latest calibrations.

@P. A. Schilke do you know if updating the PCM calibrations would affect an aftermarket tune? The dealer had installed the Roush tune on the truck while it was still on the lot. I told them about it when I dropped it off this morning. Wasn't sure if those things were stored separately from each other, or if they just overwrote the whole shebang and I'm going to have to fight them lol.

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