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How to Check the Status of Your Fuses in Your Car Fuse Box

  • Writer: Tim Welch
    Tim Welch
  • Feb 10, 2023
  • 2 min read


A car fuse box is a part of your vehicle that protects your electrical circuits. It contains fuses, relays and diodes to prevent short-circuiting and overcurrent of the electrical system of your vehicle.

Fuses should last a long time, and in most cases, you will not need to replace them unless they blow. But, when you do need to replace them, it's important that you get the correct fuse. You should never replace a blown fuse with one of a higher amperage rating, as this could cause damage to your vehicle's electronics.


You can check the status of your fuse by visual inspection or using a multimeter in continuity mode. With a multimeter, you can place probes on either end of the fuse to measure whether there is continuity or not. If the multimeter reads a high resistance, this is an indication that your fuse has broken or blown and needs replacing.


In some cases, you may need to remove the fuse from the fuse box or housing before you can perform this test. If that is the case, make sure you disconnect the battery first to avoid a shock or fire.


If you don't have a tool like this on hand, you can also use needle nose pliers to remove a fuse or relay from the fuse box. However, if the relay is especially tough to remove, you might want to invest in dedicated relay pulling pliers https://fuse-box-diagrams.com/.


You will need a test light and a multimeter in order to check the status of your fuse. Depending on the type of multimeter, you should set it to either voltage or continuity mode. When you connect the positive and negative ends of the test light, if it lights up, it means that the fuse is connected and functioning properly. If the light goes out, it's an indication that there is a problem with your fuse.


To test your fuse, you will need to place the ground clip of the tester onto the terminals on the negative side of the car's battery and then hook the tip of the probe to the positive terminal. If you have the proper connection point, your tester should be able to light up, but if it does not, you need to try another ground point.


There are several places to look for a ground point on a vehicle, but the best choice is typically the battery. You can also try the metal door latch, which is often very close to the fuse box.


Some of the best ground points on a car can be hard to find, so you might have to search for them with some patience. But, if you do manage to locate a good ground point, be sure to wrap both cable ends with a rag or another piece of material to ensure no contact with metal.


Most cars have two fuse boxes – one located under the hood and another near the steering wheel or dashboard. The fuses in these boxes cover different electrical circuits in your vehicle, including the cooling fans, the battery and the electronics.

 
 
 

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