Your Car's Fuse Box Explained: Everything You Need to Know About The Stuff In Fuse Boxes!

Your car's fuse box is not just filled with fuses! The fuse box contains relays, diodes, many different types of fuses, and more components that serve the electrical system and protect it from damage.

0:00 Car Fuse Boxes Explained
The automotive fuse box is a hub of protection for the electrical systems in a vehicle.

0:39 What Does a Fuse Do?
Fuses protect circuits and fail when amperage gets too high, so you can replace an easy-to-access and inexpensive fuse rather than whatever expensive part it was protecting!

2:15 What Does a Relay Do?
Relays allow a small current to control a large current. Many switches and computers don't like high amperage, so the relay handles it for them!

3:30 What Does a Diode Do?
A diode only allows current to flow in one direction, protecting components that would be damaged by current travelling in the wrong direction.

4:10 How do You Find The Right Fuse, Relay, or Diode?
Finding the right fuse, relay, or diode is an important step in troubleshooting a circuit/electronic item's issue. There are two main ways to find them, and the best way will differ from vehicle to vehicle.

5:12 How to Remove a Fuse or Relay
Removing a fuse can often be done with a fuse puller, but needle nose pliers also work well. Relays can be a bit tougher, but a dedicated pair of relay pulling pliers can help tremendously!

6:11 Why are There Empty Spaces in the Fuse Box?
Are you missing fuses? Those empty spots may be there on purpose! Sometimes they are there to allow for future-proofing, but other times it's just where a feature would be fused if the vehicle came with that feature.

6:51 Bonus: Less Common Fuse Box Information!
This section contains information about breakers, fusible links, in-line fuse holders, fuse blocks, and more!

9:32 End Thoughts
Do you have any questions about automotive fuse boxes? After finishing the video, feel free to ask in the comments section, and be sure to check out our videos covering specific items from the fuse box in more detail!

Why use a fusible link instead of a fuse?
A fusible link deals with excessive amperage differently than a fuse does. Quick moments of high amperage/current are allowed to happen, but if the amperage is high for too long, or way too high, the fusible link melts/burns away, disconnecting the circuit like a fuse would. Many fusible links are the last bit of wire before the circuit grounds to the chassis.

(Sometimes previews and exclusive content are shared on these platforms!)

Cars Simplified is a show dedicated to automotive education, including DIY repair, automotive news, auto industry changes, automotive technology, performance modifications, and more, all presented in a friendly and easy to digest manner!

#CarsSimplified #CarsSimplifiedS6 #CarsSimplifiedElectrical #Automotive #Education #Cars

Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Cars Simplified, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Cars Simplified assumes no liability for any property or personal damage that may arise from doing a repair on your vehicle after watching any video. Due to factors beyond the control of Cars Simplified, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Again any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Cars Simplified.
Cars Simplified earns from qualifying purchases via the Amazon Associate program.

[CarsSimplified]

Can I get an F in the chat for those fuses that were shorted out for slow motion B-roll footage? Also, here are some related videos:

[Get_cammed_out]

I'm an upcoming technician, and I'm starting my job at Ford this week as a quick lane tech. This channel is really gonna help me reach master mechanic

[AsureyX]

This is more informative on electronics than most videos. I've been struggling to understand what diodes do but here you made it a world more simple.

[matraz]

Empty spots in a fuse box can also exist for hidden features. Such as for allowing a vehicle to be towed with no power, by allowing the transmission to shift into neutral and etc.

[fredjen]

Yes dude this helped 🤙🏽 2005 9-3 saab didn't come with an owners manual so have to learn everything online, car randomly wont turn on so checking all fuses 🤙🏽 key won't turn in ignition, interior lights wont come on, person who had it unplugged the radio and can't get any sound. First car I've since 2019, dude I just wanna enjoy my first car in awhile ya know, 🙏🏽

[esswfco]

This is one of the most informative videos I've ever seen on any topic. Well done.

[TheYellowman]

i feel bad for all of the innocent fuses that lost their lives in the making of this video. RIP

[TheModernMusashi]

This was great. You went into great detail but still managed to do it in a 10 min video. Also the video quality was fantastic. Good job

[alandaters]

Nice video, but I would have added a section on the different fuse types, as they can be confusing, especially if ordered online. (The PAL line, MCASE vs JCASE, mini, low profile mini, micro2, etc.)

[PeaceChanel]

Thank You for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.. Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste.. 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮ ❤

[drm]

This is a tremendous teaching video, which I will be re-watching and re-watching until I thoroughly understand. I see one of those awesome 04-06 GTOs in some of the shots. My question is this: I want to give my two after market gauges in my 2006 GTO their own power source tied to the ignition, so they only turn on at engine start. Right now I believe the shop wired them with the car audio which is on a switch, I think to the cigarette lighter in console. Thus when I turn the audio on with engine off, the gauges also turn on, which I do not like. So one person suggested add-a-fuse. Your video convinced me, no way. Another suggested I buy a spare fuse block and harvest a terminal from it, this idea I like very much (and your video discusses it). Do you agree? Would both gauges be able to work from a single added terminal? How do I do it? Any videos on this subject especially in a GTO? Needless to say, if you are anywhere near Phoenix AZ, I would gladly drive there and pay you well to do this.

[Garage]

Very thorough! So it should really be called a fuse, relay, transistor, and diode box! :P

[sheldonacharekar]

Great video. Very detailed & easy to understand.

[windinthewillow]

Dude that was the best video I've ever seen.

[manofgod]

Very well spoken and depicted.keep making videos.👍👍

[BrunoPrisca]

Thanks for that complete video.

I have a question.
How can I match a fuse in a car fuse box and its wire ?
In other words, how can I identify the wire that caries an identified fuse ?

[highlife]

Great video man first video I ever watch but great information 👍👍

[muhash]

Beautiful. Your this informative video is awesome. Professional and very informative. Fast and clear and solid info. 3 thumbs up. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[francisdsa]

Very important information thanks for this video 🙏

[rachelechaplin]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge :-) you have wonderful skills!