Have a Mystery Problem with Your Car? Check Your Car Fuse Box First

If you have ever suffered from mystery problems with your car like a light that refuses to turn on despite replacement of the bulb, a horn that won’t blow, or your vehicle won’t start or move even though everything appears fine, check your car fuse box. Rather than take your car to a mechanic for repair, a problem fuse – or fuses, in some cases – can be replaced by you quickly, easily, and with little or no dirt involved. When you do it yourself with car fuses replacement, you save money, too.

This auto fuse box helps control the function of a number of components, from obvious things like your headlights and dome or dashboard illumination to more exotic ones like your hand or parking brake operation and car horn. If a fuse blows, you not only have a failure but a mystery unless you figure out what is wrong.

For example, a blown fuse that covers your hand brake may not just limit your ability to use this brake. This fuse can actually stop some vehicles from moving altogether.

Yes, just like your house has a circuit breaker – the modern equivalent of the old-fashioned fuse box – your car, truck or SUV has a fuse box as well. Unlike the household screw-in fuses, however, car fuses tend to be small cylinders with a transparent body and metal at either end. But like household fuses, car fuses often display a problem when blown. For example, you may see corrosion or blackness on the metal or something broken within the transparent body to indicate the fuse is blown.

Your car fuse box is usually found in one of two places: usually near the bottom of your dashboard as you move closer to the foot well or, on many models, under the hood. While the fuse box is typically clearly marked, your vehicle owner manual may help you find yours if a quick check fails to uncover it. Most fuse box covers simply pull or snap off.

Once you locate your car fuse box, look carefully inside. Grab a flashlight or work light, as needed, to see its contents. How many fuses you have really depends on your vehicle make and model. Some have as few as 12 while others have two dozen or more. In general, the more special options you have or specialized electrical systems or subsystems, the greater the number of car fuses you will see.

Now consult your owner manual. Most of these include at least a page or two of information specifically related to your car fuses, both in terms of what each is responsible for as well as what type of replacement fuse you need if one blows. If your manual does not include this information, you may be able to find out through your dealer, your regular auto mechanic, or even online through car repair sites like www.alldata.com. Other sites, like www.cartalk.com, let you post messages to ask questions that knowledgeable people usually help answer.

With a guide to each fuse, you now need to look at individual fuses. As previously mentioned, many blown fuses give you a visual indicator there is a problem. Yet not all do. You will learn more about this factor in a moment when I tell you about a recent issue I experienced.

Some fuses will blow dramatically enough that you can spot a blown fuse before you remove the fuse from the fuse box. Again, signs of blackening, warping or, in rare cases, actual breakage in the cylinder are symptoms of a blown fuse. You may, however, need to remove each fuse – or at least, those that present the most likely suspects for your current car repair trouble – to inspect.

With fuses, women sometimes have an advantage because fingernails can make it easier to wedge a fuse out of its clip or other mounting. If you have trouble removing one or more fuses, consider using a simple bread knife (not a sharp one) but be ready with the palm of your hand to catch the fuse as it pops loose. You don’t want the fuse to fall into the wheel well or strike something that could damage an otherwise fine and functional fuse. Most fuses do not stand up to lots of abuse.

I recently had a blown fuse that controls an interior fan where the fuse itself appeared perfect with no indication of damage. It was the very first thing I checked since a blown fuse can be literally one of the simplest repairs possible. But, after wasting much time exploring wiring and functionality, I just replaced the fine-looking fuse. Voile, the fan began to turn again. Also, the repair cost me less than a dollar with a second fuse I can keep for a spare.

If you need replacement fuses, your local auto parts store or a large general merchandise department store is likely to stock them. If you forget to bring along the replacement fuse number – and it’s not a bad idea to take the spent fuse along to use as a visual match – reference books or computer lookups at the store can usually help you identify the replacement fuse or fuses you need. The cost can vary although most fuses cost no more than a few dollars which may include more than one replacement.

Replacement fuses go in the same way a blown fuse comes out, just in reverse. You usually just pop the new fuse into place, making sure that it makes a full and firm connection.

Keep your spare fuses in a good spot where you can find them again when needed. If you let them roll around inside a glove compartment that can roast in the summer or turn into a refrigerator in winter is ill-advised.