Professional Automotive Experts Answering Your Questions
How Do I Repair My Car?
/ How Do I Check My Car Fuses?
How to Check Car Fuses?
Electrical fuses protect vulnerable electrical circuits from shorts and burnt
wiring. There is basically only one way a fuse can fail and that is, for at least
a second there was a short circuit to ground that caused the fuse to blow. Most
vehicles fuse panels are located under the hood or under the dash and is labeled
with specific amperage ratings and the circuit the fuse protects. Always replace
failed fuses with the proper amp fuse; not doing so can result in electrical system
damage.
Step 1 - Identify fuses, control relays, micro relays and main fusible
links:
This is a main electrical junction box; most electrical components are supplied
and protected though this box. If an electrical component short circuits it will
blow a fuse in this box in most cases. The control relay and micro control relay
are used as a high amperage switch for devises that require high amounts of amperage
for an extended amount of time. The fuse or fusible link supply voltage to sub electrical
systems.
Step 2 - Checking Fuses and Main Fusible Links:
There are two ways to check fuses the first is the good old fashion way of removing
each fuse and visually inspecting each fuse. It's time consuming but effective.
And the easy way, but you need a "test light" before you can begin. Turn the key
to the "on" position (do not start), ground your test light lead to a good ground
source, like a metal brace under the dash, seat mount bolt or under hood brace.
Then lightly touch the service port at the top of the fuse on both sides. If the
test light illuminates on both sides of the fuse, the fuse is ok and working properly.
If the fuse lights the test light on one side it is blown and needs to be replaced.
How Do I Repair My Car?
/ How Do I Check My Car Fuses?
Common Problems
- The wrong amperage fuse is installed causing wiring damage.
- Fuses can cause intermitted short circuit by becoming loose or corroded
in the fuse holder. Make sure fuse is held securely and is free of dirt and
corrosion.
Additional "How to" Car Repair or Services
ASK FUSE QUESTIONS
- Join our question and answer forum where over 6,000 free auto repair questions
are answered every month, after you have completed our free signup you will able
to ask a question and receive an answer from one of our many forum members. If you
elect to donate any small amount of money we will assign one of our 2CarPros Certified
Repair Technicians to answer your question. Questions with donations are answered
promptly and 100% of the donation is awarded to the technician helping you.
GET ONLINE
CAR REPAIR MANUALS
- Get instant access to your vehicles wiring diagrams, firing
orders, component locator, vacuum diagrams, repair procedures, specific testing
and diagnostics for troubleshooting, steering and suspension information,
heating and air-conditioning problems, safety belt and airbag restraint repair,
factory bulletins and general information and much more. We
recommend that anyone needing technical repair information should have a quality auto
repair manual for their car.
| 
