How to Replace a Blown Fuse in a Car

Every electrical current in your car is protected with fuses or circuit breakers. Sometimes a fuse will become weak and will open or burn when it cannot carry any more current. Replacing the fuse is the first step in determining if there is a real problem in the circuit or only a bad fuse.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Needle nose pliers
• Test light

1. Locate your car's fuse panel. Knowing what item is not working in the car, look on the panel cover, or on the panel itself, to locate the fuse that protects the inoperative item's circuit.

2. Use a needle nose pliers to remove the fuse. If you have a test light, you can first test the fuse by checking for current on both of its sides.

3. Look at the fuse after you remove it. If the fuse is darkened or you do not see a small wire inside, the fuse is open or burned out.

4. Replace the bad fuse with a new fuse of the same ampere rating. There might be spare fuses on the fuse cover or stored in the fuse panel. If not, you must purchase a replacement at an automotive supplies store.

5. After replacing the fuse, test the item in your car that was not working to make sure that solved the problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Your car owner's manual can assist you in locating the fuse panel or panels in your car. There maybe be more than one fuse panel.
• Always replace fuses with fuses that have the same ampere rating. A larger ampere rated fuse will not protect the circuit correctly and could cause further damage to the circuit and wiring.