A fuse is a low resistance resistor device that protects a circuit from being overloaded. This short piece of wire is designed to melt and break apart when it is exposed to an excess of electrical current. There are fuse boxes in your cars too, to protect yourself in case of any electrical damage. This article discusses how to check car fuses to fin if any of them are faulty and must be replaced. So read on!
Table of Contents
How To Check Car Fuses In Simple Steps?
An electric fuse usually causes an electric short or an overloaded circuit. The most common fuse to burn out in a car is the 12v power outlet, also known as the cigarette lighter. This is often caused by leaving a cell phone charger in it for a long time, or because of the occasional stray penny that falls into an exposed power outlet.
A fuse box is located in the car and houses the fuses. Some cars have multiple fuse boxes with many different fuses.
Steps involved
Following the steps on how to check car fuses or fuse box may help you get clarity of why an electrical component in your car stopped working suddenly. Here are the steps you need to follow to check your fuse box so read on.
Step 1: Locate The Fuse box
The most important step in how to check car fuses to find what is wrong or if there is a blown-out fuse is by locating the fuse box. For that, you will need the following materials
- Flashlight
- Needle nose pliers or fuse puller
- Test light
Most cars have more than one fuse box. Depending on the make of the car, the fuse boxes may be installed in different areas. Their location may differ depending on your car manufacturer, so it is better to refer to your owner’s manual to find the locations of the fuse. boxes. You also need to know which fuse box controls each circuit.
What Are The Common Fuse Box Locations?
1. Under The Hood
The fuse box is generally located close to the car battery and along the inner fender well. There could also be more than one fuse box under the hood.
2. Under The Dashboard
Another common location of fuse boxes is underneath the dashboard in the footwell area as well as occasionally behind the kick panel on either the driver or the passenger side. A fuse box can even be located on the side of the dashboard that can be accessed when the front door is opened.
3. Under The Back Seat
The fuse boxes and batter can be located under the seat cover.
4. In The Trunk
The fuse panel and battery in some cars are located behind a beautification panel on the right side of the trunk.
Step 2: Visually Inspect Fuses
Most fuse boxes come with a diagram that displays the name and location of each fuse.
1. Remove The Fuse
After making sure that the car is completely off, proceed to locate the fuse and firmly remove it by grabbing with the fuse puller stored in the fuse box or with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
2. Inspect the Fuse
Hold the fuse up to the light and inspect the metal wire for signs of damage or a break. If you see any problem, you have to proceed to replace the fuse.
Step 3: Use a Test Light
In case you do not have a fuse diagram to locate a specific fuse, you can proceed to individually check the fuse using a test light.
1. Switch On The Ignition
Turn your car key to the ON position on the ignition also know as Key On, Engine Off (KOEO).
2. Inspect The Fuse With The Test Light
Attach the clip on the test light to any bare metal to hold it. Then use the probe of the test light to touch each end of a fuse. If the fuse is good, then the test light will light up on both sides of the fuse. However, if a fuse is bad or broken, the light will only illuminate on one side.
Keep in mind that it is better to use a computer safe test light. It is recommended to use a test light with an Led light. Probing unknown fuses with an older style test light may result in drawing excessive current. If you test a fuse for the airbag, it may deploy so be careful!
How To Replace A Faulty Fuse?
After diagnosing a faulty fuse, it is important to fix or replace the fuse. Detect the damaged fuse and replace it with a fuse of the same type and amp rating. You can find to buy fuses of all types in most auto parts or hardware stores or dealerships.
Identifying or diagnose the damaged fuse in your car on your own and replacing it will save you a lot of money and time. However, if you notice that the same fuse blowing again and again, even after replacement, the problem could be something else. If you notice some damage to any of your car’s electrical components and blowing off of fuse repeatedly, it is recommended to get an appointment and get your car checked. They will help you diagnose why some fuses keep blowing off or why an electrical component is not working and replace the fuse box or fuse for you if needed.
How Much Would it Cost To Replace A Fuse?
Repairs and other similar jobs are quite expensive when it comes to the car industry. However, a fuse replacement job is luckily one of the cheapest repair jobs in this industry. Testing for a damaged fuse is quite easy and buying a new fuse will only cost about $2 US. This can of course vary according to the fuse size, type and design but still replacing or buying a new fuse is not an expensive job.
Conclusion
Following the steps provided in this article on how to check car fuses, can help you replace the fuse without much difficulty and very efficiently. If you are afraid of doing the job on your own, do not hesitate to get a mechanic to do the work for you. Fuse replacement won’t cost you much money so it might be better to get a mechanic if you are not familiar with doing such repair works. Hope that this article proved helpful to you.