Owning a classic car each of us a found various little gremlins that require a bit of investigating to solve the problem. One of the most common in old cars are the electrical issues that crop up from time to time. Hopefully it will be as simple a replacing the classic car fuse.
If you have ever tried to diagnose an electrical problem in a car, you likely have discovered it is not as easy as it seems. The good news is that it typically will be a blown car fuse and that is where every diagnosis should start. Every automaker installs fuses in a fuse box to help prevent circuits from overheating, which can easily damage components, or even start on fire.
What Is a Car Fuse
The job of a car fuse is to handle a predetermined amount of current flow before they will burn up (a.k.a blown fuse). Typically speaking, car fuses are rated to accept double the normal amount of amperage the circuit requires for normal operation. Using fuses drastically increases the chance of your electrical system components surviving an electrical surge or spike.
You will typically find two types of car fuses in most classic cars and trucks. Occasionally called spade or plug-in fuses, automotive blade fuses are widely used. The other type of fuse is a cylindrical glass fuse. Both function in the same manner. When a car fuse has more electricity flowing through it than it can safely handle, a conductive metal strip running through the center is designed to literally break apart to ensure all current is stopped.
Let’s look at how easy it is to find, inspect, test, and replace an automotive fuse. Before we get started, let’s look at some of the tools we will need for the job.
Fuse puller tool or needle-nose pliers
Multimeter/Voltmeter or test light
New fuses (same amp rating as blown fuse)
Small flat head screwdriver and flashlight (may possibly need)
Inspecting A Car Fuse
The first thing to check when something electrical in your classic car stops working is a blown fuse. In most vehicles, you will find the car fuse box under the dashboard on the driver’s side. You may need to consult your owner’s manual to locate your fuse box if you do not locate your main fuse box there. You also might expect to find another car fuse box located under your hood. If you are having trouble locating your fuse box, a quick Google search should quickly get you an answer.
When removing the car fuse box cover/panel (using the Flathead screwdriver if necessary), you should discover a diagram on the inside that lists all the fuses, what parts they protect, and the required amp rating. If there is no diagram, you may want to refer to the owner’s manual or the internet to find one. It is much easier to know which fuse to test by referring to the diagram.
Once you locate the fuse in you want to test, you will need to remove the fuse using the fuse puller tool or needle-nose pliers. Use caution when removing a glass fuse. They can be sharp if they break, so we suggest using a plastic puller tool for these. Also, the fuse connecters may come into contact with a pliers and could potentially short out the system.
Car Fuse Removal
Once you have a good hold of the fuse, pull it straight out away from the fuse box. You may need to wiggle it a little to set it free. After removing the fuse, give it a visual inspection. If the metal strip or wire inside the fuse is broken it will need to be replaced. The most important thing when replacing a fuse is to use the recommended amp rated fuse. Never, ever use a lower or higher rated amp fuse.
It is not always apparent that a fuse is broken with a visual inspection. There could be a hairline break in the metal strip that just cannot be seen with the naked eye. If you see nothing wrong with the fuse, do not just assume it is ok. It needs to be tested with a multimeter or a test light.
Testing A Fuse
When you use the multimeter to test a fuse, set the meter to read Ohms. Then touch the positive lead of the meter to one metal end of the fuse and touch the negative lead to the other. If the fuse is good, you will get an ohm reading. If there is no reading, then the fuse is bad.
Using a test light instead of a multimeter, connect the clip or clamp on the test light to a known ground in the car. With the fuse seated in its fuse box socket, touch the tip of the test light to the exposed metal part on the top of the fuse. There are two exposed metal tabs, one on each side. Be sure to touch both. If the test light illuminates on both, the fuse is good. If it only lights up on one, the fuse needs to be replaced.
Once you have found a fuse that has blown and needs to be replaced, simply push the same rated fuse back into the open slot. Fuses are designed to break from time to time. It is really no cause for concern. If you put a new fuse in and it breaks quickly, you will need to diagnose the problem further as it is likely not a fuse.
Finally
The wiring in most vintage cars can dry and become brittle or even wires can loosen causing contacts to disrupt. The first step in any investigation into an electrical problem is to check the car fuse box with the hope that it is just a worn-out fuse. As a classic car own, I always keep a selection of spare car fuses in the glove box or in my emergency kit to avoid breaking down on the road.
