Car Repair—Fixing a Blown Fuse in Under Five Minutes

Dec 6
09:41

2011

Andrew Stratton

Andrew Stratton

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Replacing a blown fuse is a car repair anyone can undertake. It only takes a few minutes and the supplies are so cheap you can pay for it with money found in between your couch cushions.

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Not all car repair jobs have to take hours of your time,Car Repair—Fixing a Blown Fuse in Under Five Minutes Articles while electrical problems are becoming increasingly common among vehicle owners, there is one easy fix. Most cars now operate on several computerized systems, and although it may make driving easier, a single blown fuse can cause a big headache. Fortunately, while fixing your in-dash navigator system may be out of reach, drivers can still manage the small stuff such as flickering interior lights, a dead cigarette lighter, and uncooperative windshield wipers. Most of these problems will all be due to blown fuses, which anyone can fix for under five dollars and in under five minutes.

Whether your interior lights won't turn on or you can't get your windshield wipers to work, the first place to start is your owner's manual. Inside you'll find a diagram and location of your fuse box, which is small and often located inside the glove box or under the dash. There is another box near the engine under the hood. Check the one located inside first. There should be a removable panel or door attached to it. Pull this off and have a look. There are several different fuses which should look like colored plastic plugs or glass tubes. When one is blown, the wire in the middle will have a clear disconnect. This is likely what is causing your troubles. If everything looks normal, check the engine fuse box. If none of those are blown either, it is time to bring it in for professional car repair.

Sourcing replacement fuses is pretty simple for most drivers. Simply pop into your local car repair store, go to the electrical repairs section, and you'll see several fuse kits that will have vehicle makes, models, and years written on them. Find yours and you're ready to go on to the next step. If you are having difficulty, you may want to shop online or ask a clerk for help. Some stores can check on their computers to see which fuse set is compatible with your vehicle. Replacement fuses only run a few dollars at most and often come in a pack with several others. You may even have been supplied with extra spares in your fuse box already.

To replace the fuse, it's as simple as gently removing the old and popping in the new if you have plastic plugs. If they are particularly small, it may be helpful to use a pair of tweezers. The glass tube types of fuses are a bit trickier and will require that you slide in one side at a time. They can also come in different lengths. If you are having trouble determining which one is blown, check your owner's manual. It will sometimes explain which numbered fuses correspond to which functions. For example, the first one may be connected to the turn signals, and if that's your problem, start there. The most important thing to remember is to replace the blown fuse with the correct amperage rating or else you risk damaging a component, especially if you choose a higher one.