Step by step: car fuse

During the course of time, there is a chance one of the fuses in your car will blow. This is not usually a crisis, but it means that something on the car is no longer working.

Most likely, the thing that will quit working on your car will be relatively minor. For example, it could be the reverse lights, the turn signals, the headlamps, the radio, or even the interior lights. Whatever the case, if a fuse blows, the device in question won’t work. For exterior or interior lighting, the possibility of a fuse being the cause of malfunction is quite likely. In fact, for any single item or system in the car, the chances of a fuse being the cause of an electrical failure is high enough that, in most cases, it should be the first thing you check.

"But I do not know how to check fuses,” you might say. After reading this step by step on fuse inspection and replacement, you will know how. It is easy and you will get a real sense of satisfaction knowing you were able to troubleshoot a problem like this without having to go through the hassle and expense of going to the mechanic.
Many cars have two fuse boxes: one under the bonnet, the other is under the dashboard. You might find others in non traditional places. In general, most cars use a type of fuse that uses a plastic housing with the fusible link encased in the housing.

1. Turn off ignition: Before you open or work on a fuse box, be sure that your car’s ignition is turned off. Never replace a fuse with one that has different amperage than the original. The new fuse has to be the same colour and size as the one you are replacing.

2.Locate fuse box: Once you have located the fuse box, you have to determine which fuse needs to be removed for inspection. Close to the fuse box or on the box cover are charts showing which fuse corresponds to which device or system. Some cars provide a pair of tweezers to help you remove a fuse. If your car does not have this nifty little feature, you are not out of luck. But in most cases, you will need a small pair of needle-nose or standard pliers to get the fuse out of the box.

3.Once the fuse is singled out and removed, you need to determine if it is blown. This is usually quite easy. If the metal link inside the fuse is separated, the fuse is gone. If not, then it is still good and can be reinstalled.

4.Replacement: If the fuse is blown, find a proper replacement. The most critical element to replacing a fuse is using the exact amperage rating as the blown one. If you use a fuse with different amperage rating, you risk either blowing the fuse again, or damaging the equipment the fuse is designed to protect.
The idea behind a fuse is that it is supposed to blow if there is a surge in the device or system’s electrical wiring. For example, if it is a 10-amp fuse that needs replacing and you replace it with only a five-amp fuse, the smaller fuse will blow much sooner than it needs to.

5.Once you have a replacement, reinstall the new one. This is the easiest part. The fuse plugs right back into the fuse box and usually fits into place with a little pressure from your fingers. After you have replaced all the broken fuses, test the part that malfunctioned to see if it is operating properly again. If it still does not work, have it professionally repaired or replaced.