- Published 12 Mar 2024
- Last Modified 12 Mar 2024
- 14 min
Demystifying Car Fuses: A Comprehensive Guide to Types, Functions, and Replacement Tips
This guide explains what car fuses are and explores the different types and sizes available.
Car fuses are crucial components for maintaining electrical systems in vehicles, including cars and trucks. They play a vital role in safeguarding circuits from electrical overloads and short circuits. As fuses are essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of your vehicle's electrical systems, it's important to understand their different types, functions, and how to manage them effectively.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore everything you need to know about car fuses, from their basic functionality to how to check, replace, and select the right type of fuses for your vehicle. Whether you’re a seasoned driver or just starting your journey on the road, this guide will provide you with the essential knowledge to navigate the world of car fuses with confidence.
What is a Car Fuse?
Car fuses are small, yet critical components that are used to protect the electrical systems of vehicles. They are designed to interrupt the flow of electrical current when a circuit experiences an overload or a short circuit, preventing damage to the wiring and the connected electrical components.
Fuses are essentially sacrificial elements in the electrical system. When a fault occurs, causing an excessive current flow, the fuse will melt, breaking the circuit and stopping the current. This action effectively protects the wiring and other electrical components from potential damage.
Car fuses come in various types and sizes, each with its own current rating. The current rating of a fuse indicates the amount of electrical current it can safely handle. Common car fuse current ratings include 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 amps, though other ratings are available as well.
New Zealand, like many other countries, primarily uses blade-type fuses in vehicles. These fuses are characterised by their flat, blade-like appearance and are often housed in a fuse box, or fuse holder, within the vehicle.
How to Check Car Fuses
As a responsible vehicle owner, it's important to know how to check car fuses. While car fuses are designed to provide protection and can last a long time under normal conditions, they can still blow due to electrical faults. If an electrical component in your vehicle stops working, a blown fuse is often the culprit.
Here are the general steps to check if a car fuse has blown:
Locate the Fuse Box: The fuse box in your vehicle is where all the fuses are housed. The location of the fuse box can vary by vehicle make and model. Common locations include under the dashboard, in the engine compartment, or in the trunk. Refer to your vehicle's manual to find the exact location.
Visually Inspect the Fuses: Once you've located the fuse box, open the cover. You'll see a collection of fuses inside. Inspect each fuse visually to see if the metal strip inside is intact or broken. A broken metal strip indicates that the fuse has blown.
Use a Multimeter: If you're unsure about the condition of a fuse, you can use a multimeter to test it. Set the multimeter to the continuity or resistance setting. Place the multimeter probes on the metal ends of the fuse. If the multimeter beeps or shows a reading of zero resistance, the fuse is fine. If there is no beep and the reading is infinite, the fuse has blown.
Replace Blown Fuses: If you find a blown fuse, replace it with a new one of the same amperage rating. Be sure to use the correct amperage, as using a fuse with the wrong rating can be dangerous for your vehicle's electrical system.
How to Replace Car Fuses
Understanding how to replace a car fuse is a valuable skill for any vehicle owner. It's a relatively simple task that can save you time and money by avoiding a trip to the mechanic. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to replace a blown car fuse:
1. Identify the Fuse Box: The location of the fuse box can vary by vehicle make and model. Common locations include under the dashboard, in the engine compartment, or in the trunk. Refer to your vehicle's manual to find the exact location.
2. Locate the Blown Fuse: Open the fuse box cover and use the fuse diagram to identify the fuse that corresponds to the malfunctioning electrical component. The diagram will clearly indicate the amperage and function of each fuse.
3. Remove the Blown Fuse: Fuses can be removed using your fingers or a fuse puller tool. If using your fingers, grip the fuse and gently pull it out. If using a fuse puller, place the tool around the fuse and apply steady pressure to remove it.
4. Inspect the Fuse: Once removed, visually inspect the fuse to confirm that it has blown. Check for a broken metal strip inside the fuse. If the metal strip is intact, the fuse is likely still functional.
5. Replace the Fuse: Take a new fuse of the same amperage rating and insert it into the slot. Fuses have different amperage ratings, so be sure to match the amperage of the new fuse with the amperage of the old one.
6. Test the Electrical Component: After replacing the fuse, turn on the vehicle and test the electrical component to ensure that it is functioning properly. If the component now works, you’ve successfully replaced the fuse. If the problem persists, there may be an underlying issue that requires further investigation.
What Fuse Do I Need for My Car?
Selecting the right type and size of car fuse is essential when it comes to maintaining and troubleshooting your vehicle's electrical system.
Car fuses come in various types and sizes, including blade-type fuses and cylindrical fuses. However, in New Zealand, blade-type fuses are primarily used. The most commonly used blade-type fuses are mini blade fuses and standard blade fuses.
Mini blade fuses, also known as automotive mini fuses, are smaller in size and are commonly used in modern vehicles for a wide range of applications. Standard blade fuses are larger and typically used in older vehicle models. Both types of fuses come in a range of amperage ratings to suit different electrical components within the vehicle.
When determining the correct fuse for your car, you'll need to consider the specific amperage rating required for the electrical circuit or component. The amperage rating is usually printed on the fuse and can also be found in your vehicle's manual or a fuse box diagram.
If you're unsure about the correct fuse type for your vehicle, you can refer to your vehicle's manual, the fuse box diagram, or consult with an automotive professional.
How to Change a Car Fuse Step by Step
Knowing how to change a car fuse is an essential skill for any vehicle owner. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to change a car fuse:
Step 1: Locate the Fuse Box - The fuse box in your vehicle is where all the fuses are housed. The location of the fuse box can vary by vehicle make and model. Common locations include under the dashboard, in the engine compartment, or in the trunk. Refer to your vehicle's manual to find the exact location.
Step 2: Identify the Correct Fuse - Open the fuse box cover and use the fuse diagram to identify the fuse that corresponds to the malfunctioning electrical component. The diagram will clearly indicate the amperage and function of each fuse.
Step 3: Remove the Blown Fuse - Fuses can be removed using your fingers or a fuse puller tool. If using your fingers, grip the fuse and gently pull it out. If using a fuse puller, place the tool around the fuse and apply steady pressure to remove it.
Step 4: Inspect the Fuse - Once removed, visually inspect the fuse to confirm that it has blown. Check for a broken metal strip inside the fuse. If the metal strip is intact, the fuse is likely still functional.
Step 5: Replace the Fuse - Take a new fuse of the same amperage rating and insert it into the slot. Fuses have different amperage ratings, so be sure to match the amperage of the new fuse with the amperage of the old one.
Step 6: Test the Electrical Component - After replacing the fuse, turn on the vehicle and test the electrical component to ensure that it is functioning properly. If the component now works, you’ve successfully replaced the fuse. If the problem persists, there may be an underlying issue that requires further investigation.
Car Fuse Types
Car fuses come in various types and sizes, each designed for specific applications within a vehicle's electrical system. Understanding the different types of car fuses is essential for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing electrical issues in your vehicle.
While the world of automotive fuses is vast, we will primarily focus on the most commonly used fuse types in New Zealand. These include standard blade fuses and mini blade fuses.
Standard Blade Fuses: Standard blade fuses, also known as regular blade fuses, are among the oldest fuse types used in vehicles. They are characterised by their oblong shape and are available in a wide range of amperage ratings.
Mini Blade Fuses: Mini blade fuses, also referred to as automotive mini fuses, are smaller in size compared to standard blade fuses. They are commonly used in modern vehicles for a wide range of applications. Mini blade fuses also come in various amperage ratings to accommodate different electrical components.
Cylindrical Fuses: While not as commonly used in modern vehicles, cylindrical fuses, also known as glass tube fuses, were prevalent in older vehicle models. They have a cylindrical shape and typically feature a glass tube with metal caps on both ends. The fuse element inside the tube is made of a thin wire or metal strip. Cylindrical fuses are available in different amperage ratings.
Car Fuse Sizes
Car fuses come in different sizes to accommodate various applications within a vehicle's electrical system. The most commonly used car fuse sizes in New Zealand are standard blade fuses and mini blade fuses.
Both of these types of fuses are available in a range of amperage ratings to suit the specific requirements of different electrical components in a vehicle.
Standard Blade Fuse Sizes: Standard blade fuses are available in several sizes, denoted by their amperage ratings. The most common sizes include the following:
Mini Blade Fuse Sizes: Mini blade fuses, despite their smaller profile, also come in different sizes corresponding to their amperage ratings. The most commonly used mini blade fuse sizes include:
- 2 Amp
- 3 Amp
- 5 Amp
- 7.5 Amp
- 10 Amp
- 15 Amp
- 20 Amp
- 25 Amp
- 30 Amp
Standard Blade Fuse Sizes: Standard blade fuses are available in a range of sizes to accommodate different amperage ratings. The sizes of standard blade fuses are typically categorised by their physical dimensions, and the amperage ratings are colour-coded for easy identification. Common sizes of standard blade fuses include:
Mini Blade Fuse Sizes: Mini blade fuses are also available in various sizes to match their amperage ratings. The physical dimensions of mini blade fuses differ based on the current capacity they can handle. The most common mini blade fuse sizes include:
Micro2: These are the smallest mini blade fuses and are characterised by their compact size and two prongs on each end.
Micro3: Slightly larger than the Micro2 fuses, Micro3 fuses feature a distinctive shape and three prongs on each end.
Low-Profile Mini: Low-profile mini blade fuses are smaller than standard mini fuses, with a more compact profile while still maintaining the same width. They are typically used in applications with limited space.
Mini: The standard mini blade fuses are larger than the other types, with a more traditional fuse appearance. They are commonly employed in various electrical circuits in vehicles, making them one of the most widely used car fuse sizes.
Each of these sizes corresponds to a specific amperage rating, and it's important to use the correct size and rating when replacing a fuse in your vehicle.
