Fuses
1. Protection of the electrical circuits of the car is provided by the use of a combination of fuses, circuit breakers (breakers) chains and fusible links. Fuse boxes are located under the dash and in the engine compartment (pic. 3.1, a, b).
Pic. 3.1, a. The engine compartment fuse and relay box is located on the left side of the engine compartment. There is an information label on the inside of the lid. The area between the arrows is the area where the fuses are located «cartridge type»
Pic. 3.1b. In addition, there is a fuse box in the cabin of the car. It is located on the left end of the front panel. Access to it is possible through a technological beam, which is closed with a small lid. Reference information on fuses is indicated on the inside of the cover
2. Each fuse is used to protect a specific electrical circuit. The fuse identification table is usually located on the inside of the fuse box cover.
3. Fuse boxes use so-called miniaturized fuses. These compact fuses «knife type» are removed with a tool inserted in the fuse box, or simply with your fingers. If an electrical component fails, always check the appropriate fuse first. To test the fuses, turn the ignition on and use a test lamp to check each open terminal of each fuse. If the test lamp illuminates from both fuse terminals, the fuse is good. If there is power on only one side of the fuse, it has blown. Once removed, a blown fuse can be easily identified by looking at it through the transparent plastic housing (pic. 3.3).
Pic. 3.3. When a fuse blows, the wire between the contacts is
4. Replace the fuse with one of the same current rating. Fuses with different ratings have the same appearance and are interchangeable when installed, but only fuses with the correct rating should be used. Replacing the fuse with a fuse with a higher or lower rating is not recommended. Each electrical circuit requires a certain current protection. Maximum current value (in amperes) for each fuse is indicated on its case.
5. If a new fuse blows immediately, do not replace it again until the cause of the fuse has been found and repaired. In most cases, the cause is a short circuit in the wiring, caused by a broken wire or damage to its insulation.
Fusible links
6. Some circuits are protected by fuse links. They are typically used to protect non-fused electrical circuits such as the high voltage side of the ignition circuit or the starter circuit. Conventional built-in fuse links, such as those used in the starter cable, are characterized by a bulge in the cable. Newer fuse links «cartridge type», which are similar in appearance to a large fuse «cartridge type», located in a separate fuse box in the engine compartment and in the relay box (pic. 3.10, a). After disconnecting the wire «masses» from the negative terminal of the battery, simply remove the burned-out fuse-link and replace it with an insert rated not for the same current strength.