Replacing a Fuse

Most, if not all, things that use electricity to run use fuses. Some prime examples of this would be your home and your car. Chances are pretty good that you have had to replace at least one fuse in your home at some point in time. Well, when you are replacing a fuse in car it is similar, not exactly the same, but similar to doing that.

Materials:

• Box of automotive fuses
• Small screwdriver
• Rubber or latex gloves (optional)
• Car manual for appropriate vehicle

Steps:

1. Prepare. Your first step should always be to prepare. This might sound a little trite, but it is true. In this case, you need to make sure that you have all your materials and tools, as well as that you have your car turned off. The rubber gloves in the list provided are more along the lines of a precautionary safety device than anything else, and you are going to need the appropriate car manual for your vehicle, since they are going to have the appropriate wiring schematics, and be able to tell you which fuses are which. I recommend using Chelton's.
2. Locate. You now need to locate where you fuse box is. Most often, an automotive fuse box is located under the dashboard. If you are not able to spot it right away, then reference your car manual. Once you have located the fuse box, remove the cover and look inside. There should be a schematic telling you which fuse is which (but if not no worries, that is what your car manual is for), as well as a small plastic "fuse remover." If you don't have the fuse remover, then just use a small screwdriver. You should be able to locate the burned out fuse pretty easily, since it is going to be reminiscent of a burned out light bulb.
3. Remove. Go ahead and remove the fuse. Gently remove it using you hands. Be careful since these items do break rather easy. If it doesn't want to come out, then use the screwdriver or the fuse remover.
4. Replace. After you have removed the fuse, find its match in your box of replacement fuses. Once you have the replacement fuse located, go ahead and replace it, and then test your work. To test your work, simply start up the car. If everything is in the way that it should be, then whatever wasn't working before should now be working.