How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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The vehicle`s fuses are contained in three fuse boxes. The primary under-hood fuse box is in the engine compartment on the driver`s side. To open it, push the tabs as shown.
Interior Fuse Box
Located under the dashboard. Fuse locations are shown on the label under the steering column. Locate the fuse in question by the fuse number and label number.
Usually located in or around the instrument panel near the dash, fuses can also be found under the hood and even under the rear seat. Next time your radio, lights or other device stops working, chances are a blown fuse is the culprit. Look under “Fuses” in your owner`s manual for help finding your fuse panels.
Most vehicles are equipped with two fuse boxes. One is located in the engine compartment and is used to protect engine components such as the cooling system, anti-lock brake pump, and the engine control unit.
Go to your home`s electric service panel – usually, a gray metal box on an interior wall of your basement or garage, near your outside electric meter. Open the door of the service panel and see if a circuit breaker is tripped (or a fuse is blown).
In some vehicles, there are two fuse boxes. A heavy-duty fuse box is placed under the hood to protect headlight and AC wiring while a smaller fuse box is installed inside the vehicle to protect accessory wiring.
DC fuses are located inside the battery or load wiring terminals, as shown in the following figure.
It`s important that you know where your fusebox is in case you ever need to turn the electricity off in an emergency. It contains three things – the main switch, fuses and/or circuit breakers, and Residual Current Devices.
Not all car fuses are the same, and most cars have multiple fuses of varying sizes for different electrical components. When you are replacing a car fuse, it is essential to replace the blown fuse with a new one of the same type and size. You should also never replace a blown fuse with one of a higher amperage rating.
Most electronic fuses will have the voltage and amp rating stamped on the end cap. The type of fuse can generally be visually identified. Also, owner`s manuals will have the correct replacement fuse generically identified. For example: “Use a 2 amp, time-delay, 250 volt fuse.”
Electrical Issues
While this prevents serious trouble such as electrical fires, it also means that a single blown fuse can cause the entire air conditioner to stop working. Some of the most common causes of AC failure are rooted in electronics.
Fuses must be rated for the voltage AC or DC in which they will be used. Generally, fuses have a DC voltage rating that is half of the maximum AC voltage rating.
DC fuses are relatively sophisticated devices that have a different construction as compared to simple AC fuses. DC fuses contain additional elements to extinguish the arc. For AC and DC fuses, standard rated voltages are different and there is no strict mathematical relationship between these.
The voltage rating is usually shown on the fuse and is expressed in Volts. Fuses are usually rated for either voltage AC (eg. 250VAC) or voltage DC (eg. 32VDC).
DC Fuses. This is the most common type of fuse. The fuse element is encased in a glass envelope that is terminated by metal caps. The fuse is placed in an appropriate holder.
The AC fuse is a safety mechanism there to turn the machine off if there is an electrical overload. Without the fuse, your air conditioner could be damaged by the current and you could end up needing to replace the whole unit. Because the fuse has blown, the air conditioner is protected.
Blown Fuse
If there has been a surge, a fuse that controls the fuel pump, the fuel injectors, or another component that`s vital for your car`s functioning, it may be the cause of your car`s failure to start.
Luckily, fixing a blown fuse is a relatively easy DIY home repair. All you need is some basic knowledge about your fuse box and a quick trip to the hardware store and you`ll be back in business. As always, abide by the proper safety measures when working with electricity.
Other names for the fuse box include the service panel, junction box, and breaker panel.
Why won`t my car start but the battery is good? If your car won`t start but the battery is good, the most common cause is a faulty starter – though it could also be to do with your fuel. You may have insufficient fuel to get the car going.
Defective switches and faulty wiring are common causes for fuses blowing, but any kind of mechanical issue with a motor or an electrically motivated moving part can be a culprit. For instance, a windshield wiper stuck under ice can force the motor to short out.
Replacing all the fuses should not cause any problems with your car, unless you get the fuses wrong, or don`t fully seat them etc. On balance, much better off just testing them all with a meter. Most fuses have two exposed bits of metal on the top so you can even check them without removing them.