How to replace an auto fuse

Cars and trucks use fuses for many different components. Every now and then, one of the fuses will blow. You can take your car to a mechanic if you want, but it will be much cheaper to replace the fuse yourself.

Replacing a fuse is different for every vehicle, but the same general procedure applies. The first thing you'll have to do is get a replacement fuse. Open your vehicle's fuse box (typically either underneath the steering wheel or under the hood -- your owner's manual can tell you exactly where) and locate the blown fuse. All fuse boxes should include a diagram that tells you which fuse controls which components, so you can tell where the blown fuse is. If you have a circuit tester or multimeter, you can test the fuse to verify that it has been blown.

Once you've found the bad fuse, get a replacement fuse of exactly the same size and rating. Most auto shops or hardware stores sell fuses, typically in variety packs for a couple of dollars.

When removing the old fuse, you can use your fingers or a pair of tweezers, or you can get a specially-made fuse extractor (which is just a fancy pair of tweezers). You can also use needle-nose pliers, but if you do, be careful not to squeeze too hard and crack the fuse.

Make sure the car is turned off when removing or installing a fuse. Put the new fuse in gently, facing the same direction as the old fuse. Once it has snapped into place, close the fuse box and turn the car on. Test the component that the fuse controls and verify that it works. If it doesn't, the fuse may not be pushed in all the way, or the new fuse may be bad.