LOOSE WIRES & FAULTY FUSE BOXES
When your car’s fuse blows frequently, you know it’s time to replace the fuse box. Loose wires around the fuse box can make the fuse blow.
Fuse boxes are meant to protect the electrical circuits of the car against moisture-induced damage and short circuiting. Most of the car manuals have detailed diagrams regarding the position of the fuse box. It is usually located under the hood of the car. However, some cars might have the car fuse box with the panels of the dashboard. They can sometimes encounter issues and cause problems with the operation of the vehicle. Usually a faulty fuse box will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue.
"i. Electrical system malfunctioning: If you have problems with your electrical system, you can check to see if your vehicle's fuse box is bad. Keep in mind that you should always use caution when working with an automobile's electrical system.
ii. Fuses blow frequently: One of the first symptoms of a problem with the fuse box is fuses blowing frequently. If the fuse box has any sort of wiring issues, such as a short, it may cause the fuses to blow frequently. The vehicle may blow the same fuse repeatedly for no apparent reason. The fuse box may have to be disassembled or removed in order to determine if this is the issue.
iii. Loose fuses: Another symptom of a bad or failing fuse box is loose fuses. If any of the fuses fall out or easily come loose then that may be a sign that the some of the panel’s terminals may be damaged. A damaged terminal with a loose fuse may cause electrical problems such as sudden, intermittent power loss to certain accessories or lights.
iv. Burned fuses or terminals: Another, more serious symptom of an issue with the fuse box is burned fuses or terminals. If the terminals or fuses become overheated for any reason they may overheat and burn up. The terminals, or the plastic that makes up the housing may become burned or melted, which will require the panel to be replaced, and in some cases even rewired.
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Troubleshooting procedure:
Step 1
Raise the hood and remove the battery cable from the negative terminal. Inspect the fuse box, or power center, located under the hood, often very near the battery. It has a black plastic lid and houses all the main power breakers. Remove the cover and inspect the fuses, circuit breakers and relays. Use a wrench to remove the hold-down bolts that attach the power center to the car. It may also be necessary to remove the power feed wire from the battery to the power center.
Step 2
Lift the power center and look underneath for heat marks, or a dark, blue halo discoloration. This is a sure sign that something is wrong with the box and a connection has failed. Remove the screws that hold the bottom cover in place. Inspect the connections. If there is damage, replace the power center. Although minor repairs can be made, it is best to replace the entire center.
Use a flashlight to inspect the inside fuse panel. Some car manufacturers, such as Honda and Mazda, use two inside fuse panels, one under each side of the dashboard. Remove the access covers and examine the fuses as well as the wiring going into the fuse panel. Dark, discolored and burned wires are signs of failure. Wires that have bubbles in the insulation have overheated. The panel and wiring will need to be replaced.