Where are the fuses located in my vehicle?

ANSWER : Hi there. Typically when this issue occurs, damage will be instant – meaning if it’s going to damage the ECU, replacing the fuses would not help start the vehicle. So, at first glance, I would assume the ECU is OK. What is more likely is that you have an exposed wire somewhere that is causing the fuses to pop. Trying to diagnose these issues can be tricky sometimes, so it might be a good idea to have a professional mechanic complete an electrical problems inspection to isolate why you’re having these issues and recommend the right repairs.

ANSWER : Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. The book says that you can use a 15, 20, 25, or 30 amp fuse. The power to the heaters are operated through the wiring to the main harness. There could have been a wire tied into it to make the seat work on the same circuit as the driver seat. This is common to find in the vehicles.

You can try putting a 15 amp fuse in the slot and see if the seat works. Try to avoid using a high amp fuse for if there is a problem with the heater you don’t want to burn it. If nothing seems to work, then the heater in the seat has failed and needs replaced.

If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you with a seat inspection at your home or office. Best of luck.

ANSWER : Fuses provide important protection for sensitive electronics. If too much voltage is sent into a circuit, the fuse blows. This protects your accessories (your radio, the headlights, the dash lights, etc.) but you’ll need to replace the blown fuse before you can use that accessory again. This means you’ll need to know where the fuses are located. There are two options:

The passenger side fuse box: You’ll find this fuse box located on the passenger side of the car, in foot well on the side of the center console. You’ll need to lift the tab to open the lid and access the fuses.
Power distribution box: The power distribution box is also called the under-hood fuse box. It’s located under the hood on the driver side and contains not only fuses but relays and other components.

Tips

Before working with high current fuses like those in the power distribution box, disconnect the battery.
Cover the distribution box again before reconnecting the battery (to avoid potentially shocking yourself).

ANSWER : If your vehicle was involved in an accident and now will not start, I would recommend consulting with a qualified auto body expert. Auto body professionals are used to working around these types of problems and would be able to assist you with any repairs that would be necessary after the event of a collision. I would recommend calling around to get various quotes from different facilities to determine the best route for you and your vehicle.

ANSWER : For this, Silicone spray is one tool I personally like to use especially on rubber or silicone seals. The spray will leave a water-tight film on the electrical component and offers a moisture resistant coating. If you would like to have this checked, an expert, like one from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the electrical system in order to scope the problem out and pinpoint any problems.

ANSWER : Hi there. It is highly probable that you have a faulty main relay or an exposed electrical connection or bad ground to the fuse panel that is causing this issue. However, it could also be problem with the ECU itself; which tends to be a problem with Audi’s and VW’s after 15 years or so. I would highly recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car is hard to start inspection, so they can correctly diagnose this problem and recommend the right repairs.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. LED headlights are supposed to run a lighter load on the electrical system, and they should not harm fuses or the vehicle when installed properly. Due to the age of the vehicle, you may need to retrofit other parts of the headlight circuit to properly function with the new LEDs. If you have a voltmeter, you need to verify the LED’s ratings compared to what power they are actually pulling from the system. The vehicle has been run with the headlights pulling a certain amount of power, and the reduction in power being pulled may be sending extra power elsewhere, or causing other electrical issues. Consider swapping out to lower amp fuses, and rewiring the entire circuit. For more help with diagnosing the problem, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Hello. The fuse box is likely experiencing sone extra resistance. When resistance is high the amount of voltage that is allowed to limited. You may be able to find corrosion or another type of contamination that can be removed. You may not be able to access the damages. In this case you will have to replace the entire fuse box. When you replace the fuse box, you will want to make sure the fuses are good before you switch them from the old to the new unit. You may want step by step instructions or a repair manual.