Car fuses, fuse types, where are they, how to replace fuses

Fuses are small but very important parts of a vehicle. Their role in the car is very significant. If the fuse does not blow during a short circuit, the vehicle will burn. Replacing fuses yourself is easy if you know where they are. More on this later in the article.

Automotive fuse box

The name itself explains why this small element is needed - it protects the various mechanisms of the vehicle from excessive loads, taking a blow on itself, thereby preventing the failure of all the electrical wiring of the car.

In the event of a short circuit, sharp and powerful current surges occur. The design of the fuse necessarily includes a light-alloy jumper, which burns out at high current, thereby opening the electrical circuit.

Fuse types

There are three types of automotive fuses:

If your vehicle was built earlier than 1980 or a little later, you most likely have ceramic fuses. Glass tubes are another outdated type of fuse that is also quite rare today. And the third type - flat blocks - most likely, they will stand in your car.

Fuses in modern cars, why are they different colors

Manufacturers of fuses color them depending on the rating, which is convenient enough for car owners. With a color chart handy, you can't go wrong with the fuse installation process.

Where are the fuses of a modern car located

The fuse box is usually located in the passenger compartment under the dashboard. The fuses are hidden behind a plastic cover, which is most often clearly marked. We open the lid. Here you will see a line of multi-colored fuses, located randomly. Most likely, here you can also find a diagram (either on the opposite side of the cover, or somewhere nearby) showing which fuse corresponds to which device.

Why do fuses blow

There are several reasons why fuses blow out:

How to know if a fuse is blown or not

There are two ways that you can check the functionality of the car's fuses. The first relies on removing them and visually inspecting them, which is not very reliable.

In this situation, the use of a tester is implied. When checking the fuse with a tester, it must be set up for circuit continuity diagnostics. When the fuse is intact, the tester needle will go to zero, which indicates zero resistance.

The second method for determining a blown fuse is based on a more convenient technology and does not require removing the fuse from the socket. To do this, you need a probe. We turn on the inoperative circuit, and then in turn touch the fuse terminals with a probe. If there is voltage on one terminal, and on the other - no, then the fuse is faulty.

How to find out which circuit fuse is blown

To find out which circuit fuse has blown, the sample method, turn on the heating stove, fan, headlights (near, far, fog lights), air conditioner, tape recorder, heated rear window and other electrical appliances in turn. Burnout of one safety device entails inoperability of the entire circuit.

Fuse box one or two, if two then where is the second

If you don't find the correct fuse under the dashboard, don't worry. There is also a second fuse box located under the hood. It is usually very easy to find thanks to the obvious diagram drawn on the lid.

Fuses mini, max, medium, how they differ, where they are used

To date, various mini, max, medium fuses are produced, which differ in overall dimensions and design features: mini - small (they can be regular and low), max - large, medium - medium.

Pro tip: a blown fuse signals a potential problem

If the fuse blows out, this may indicate problems with a particular device or unit, for the correct operation of which it is responsible. That is, the fuse indicates where the fault has lurked in the electrical system.