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Car Maintenance and Repair
How to Change Fuses in a Car Download Article Diagnose and fix a broken fuse in your car’s electronics Co-authored by Jason Shackelford
Last Updated: February 24, 2025 References
Download Article
Locating and Diagnosing
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Fuse Removal and Replacement
|
Video
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Expert Interview
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 91,482 times.
Learn how to quickly and safely change the fuses in your car and get back on the road without letting a dealership or mechanic get the best of you.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Locating and Diagnosing
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1 Make sure it's a fuse issue. When one circuit has too much electricity flowing through it, the fuse blows to prevent serious damage and even fire. The best way of knowing if a fuse has blown, is if an electric component instantly stops working i.e. window stops while rolling up or down, radio stops workings, or all of the dash lights go out at once. If an electric component has been slowly getting worse, it is not likely a fuse but it is still good to check the fuses regularly.[1]XResearch source
2 Find the fuse panel.[2]XResearch source The owner's manual will tell where the vehicle's fuse panel is. Most models situate the fuse panel on the driver's side of the dashboard and under the steering wheel, but location varies from vehicle to vehicle. Remove the fuse panel's cover; there will be several different color-coded fuses plugged in. These colors, along with the numbers stamped on the fuses, indicate different amperage ratings. On the backside of the fuse panel there will be a diagram that shows which fuse corresponds with which electrical component. If the owner's manual is unavailable, try contacting a dealership for the location or a simple internet search can provide enough information to locate the fuse panel and specific fuses.[3]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Try to test fuses before removing. Once the fuse panel is located, remove the cover and locate the fuse puller, most vehicles come with a small fuse puller but not all will have one. Before removing any fuses, it is possible to test a fuse before removing it, this requires either a continuity test light, or a multi-meter / ohm meter.[4]XResearch source
4 Test the suspect fuses. To test a fuse without removing it, using the two probes of either the test light or multi-meter, touch the two small metal tabs located on the top of the fuse. These tabs can be tricky to connect to, but once sure that the probes are making contact, if the fuse has continuity (test light lights up) or has a resistance reading (may read 0 or 0.001milli-ohm) then the fuse is good. If these tools are unavailable, simply use the fuse puller that was in the fuse panel, or a small pair of pliers, or just bare fingers to remove and visually inspect any fuses. If the fuse is bad, it needs to be replaced.[5]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Fuse Removal and Replacement
Download Article
1 When replacing a fuse you must use a fuse that has the same amperage rating. Use the fuse panel diagram, the numbered color-coded fuses and the owner's manual to help you determine the correct amperage for your new fuse. Once you have the right fuse gently push it into the correct slot, make sure it's completely installed, and then put the fuse panel back on the car.[6]XResearch source
2 Check the circuit. Once you are done replacing the fuse, turn the ignition and check to see if the circuit giving you trouble is working correctly. If it is working, chances are you just had a temporary surge that blew the fuse. If that's the case, then you just solved the problem.[7]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question What are the reasons why my car's service light engine is on? Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Expert Answer The illumination of a service engine light typically occurs due to a variety of factors, with the most prevalent culprits being a loosely secured gas cap, insufficient fluid levels, malfunctioning sensors, or the presence of other non-critical issues within the vehicle's system. If you've checked everything and the light is still on, you can bring your car to the nearest car repair shop for a scan to properly diagnose the problem. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question Can I remove a fuse and start the car to determine what purpose the fuse serves? Akshit Sharma Community Answer It is most likely written on the fuse box, and is 100% written in the owner's manual, so you don't need to do that. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8
Question Do I need to reconnect the battery before replacing fuses? Logic Johnson Lafontaine Top Answerer Yes, it's impossible to check if the fuse is working without having battery power. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 5
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Video
Tips
Repeatedly replacing the same fuse means there is an underlying issue in that system of the vehicle, this will likely require further electrical diagnosing or a trip to a mechanic. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 3
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
If you use the wrong amperage fuse, you could cause much worse damage to your vehicle than just a blown fuse. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 1
DO NOT attempt to diagnose or change fuses with the vehicle running or with the key in the ignition. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 4
Be careful when removing any trim pieces or access panels to get to the fuse panel as these can break. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 8
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about car maintenance and repair, check out our in-depth interview with Jason Shackelford.
Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 91,482 times. 65 votes - 73% Co-authors: 11Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 91,482 Categories: Car Maintenance and Repair | Automotive Tools
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Jan 12, 2017
"Resolved my fuse issue! Thanks!"
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician 65 votes - 73% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 11Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 91,482
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Jan 12, 2017
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Download Article Diagnose and fix a broken fuse in your car’s electronics Co-authored by Jason Shackelford 
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Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 91,482 times. 65 votes - 73% Co-authors: 11 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 91,482 Categories: Car Maintenance and Repair | Automotive Tools 
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1 Make sure it's a fuse issue. When one circuit has too much electricity flowing through it, the fuse blows to prevent serious damage and even fire. The best way of knowing if a fuse has blown, is if an electric component instantly stops working i.e. window stops while rolling up or down, radio stops workings, or all of the dash lights go out at once. If an electric component has been slowly getting worse, it is not likely a fuse but it is still good to check the fuses regularly.[1] 
2 Find the fuse panel.[2] The owner's manual will tell where the vehicle's fuse panel is. Most models situate the fuse panel on the driver's side of the dashboard and under the steering wheel, but location varies from vehicle to vehicle. Remove the fuse panel's cover; there will be several different color-coded fuses plugged in. These colors, along with the numbers stamped on the fuses, indicate different amperage ratings. On the backside of the fuse panel there will be a diagram that shows which fuse corresponds with which electrical component. If the owner's manual is unavailable, try contacting a dealership for the location or a simple internet search can provide enough information to locate the fuse panel and specific fuses.[3] Advertisement 
3 Try to test fuses before removing. Once the fuse panel is located, remove the cover and locate the fuse puller, most vehicles come with a small fuse puller but not all will have one. Before removing any fuses, it is possible to test a fuse before removing it, this requires either a continuity test light, or a multi-meter / ohm meter.[4] 
4 Test the suspect fuses. To test a fuse without removing it, using the two probes of either the test light or multi-meter, touch the two small metal tabs located on the top of the fuse. These tabs can be tricky to connect to, but once sure that the probes are making contact, if the fuse has continuity (test light lights up) or has a resistance reading (may read 0 or 0.001milli-ohm) then the fuse is good. If these tools are unavailable, simply use the fuse puller that was in the fuse panel, or a small pair of pliers, or just bare fingers to remove and visually inspect any fuses. If the fuse is bad, it needs to be replaced.[5] Advertisement 
1 When replacing a fuse you must use a fuse that has the same amperage rating. Use the fuse panel diagram, the numbered color-coded fuses and the owner's manual to help you determine the correct amperage for your new fuse. Once you have the right fuse gently push it into the correct slot, make sure it's completely installed, and then put the fuse panel back on the car.[6] 
2 Check the circuit. Once you are done replacing the fuse, turn the ignition and check to see if the circuit giving you trouble is working correctly. If it is working, chances are you just had a temporary surge that blew the fuse. If that's the case, then you just solved the problem.[7] Advertisement 
Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. 
Akshit Sharma Community Answer It is most likely written on the fuse box, and is 100% written in the owner's manual, so you don't need to do that. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8 
Logic Johnson Lafontaine Top Answerer Yes, it's impossible to check if the fuse is working without having battery power. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 5 
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