How to Replace a Car Fuse

Car fuses are safety devices that protect wiring and components from excessive damage if a short circuit or overload of amperage occurs. Each circuit carries a certain amount of amperage, and the fuse will burn out if that amperage is exceeded. When a fuse burns out it must be replaced with a fuse of the same ampere rating.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Needle nose pliers

1. Purchase spare fuses from any store that carries automotive accessories. Buy a few different sizes for spares. Some fuse panels have specific sockets in them for spare fuse storage.

2. Locate your car's fuse panel. Most fuse panels are around, on or under the dash panel on the driver's side. Other locations include the glove box or under the hood. Some car's have more then one fuse box. If the fuse you are looking for is not in the first fuse box you find, look for a second box.

3. Use the manufacturer provided fuse pull tool or a pair of needle nose pliers to grasp the burned-out fuse on the sides. Pull it straight out of the socket.

4. Push the new fuse into the empty socket. You can use the fuse pull tool or the needle nose pliers to do this if it is difficult to get your fingers into the fuse panel. Be sure that the new fuse is the same ampere rating as the fuse you removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Your vehicle owner's manual will help you to locate the fuse panel or panels in your car.
• Replace fuses with the same ampere rating as the dead fuse. A larger ampere rated fuse will not protect the circuit correctly and could cause further damage to the circuit and wiring. A fuse that is too low in amperage will fail if the current flow exceed its rating.