Blowing automotive fuses is much like blowing fuses in your home. In the case of your automobile, the part associated with it will either die or act up. For example, some people’s horns sound intermittently because there’s a problem with the fuse to which the horn is connected. Demore’s Automotive can help. We work on car electrical systems and if your car, truck, or utility vehicle keeps blowing auto fuses even though you replace them, it’s likely due to one of the problems listed below.
Shorts in the Electrical System
Just as in your home, an automotive electrical system is set up to protect it from the wiring overheating, melting, or catching on fire. This electrical system can end up with a short just as easily as the electrical system in your home can. Blowing a fuse is actually a safety mechanism. Instead of allowing the wires to get too hot, the fuse will blow because of the short, and this immediately cuts the electricity to the part associated with the fuse. Shorts are caused because of a poor connection between the electrical conductors that overload the circuit. Common causes of electrical shorts include
- Wire insulation that is frayed and exposes the wire underneath
- A malfunctioning accessory or component that shorts the electrical current
- An exposed conductor that is getting wet from leaking automotive fluids.
Obviously, an electrical short that blows a fuse is designed to warn you that your vehicle’s electrical system needs to be inspected as soon as possible. Continuing to drive with an electrical short, especially if you have an exposed wire in the engine, can put you in a dangerous situation. Sometimes, your engine itself will expose the wiring through heat. If you have a leaking exhaust manifold or a cracked head gasket, the temperature of your engine can get hot enough to melt away the wiring insulation.
Wrong Fuses
Another thing that will cause your auto fuses to blow is if you insert the wrong fuses into your automobile’s fuse box. Any fuse that has a higher amperage than what the circuit allows for will blow the fuse out. This, too, is a safety mechanism to prevent an electrical fire. If you do need to replace a fuse in your automobile, check your owner’s manual for the fuse box diagram. This diagram will show what each fuse is for and the total amperage each circuit can handle.
We are Demore’s Automotive and our customers are our priority. We work hard to be the best auto service shop in Palmer, MA. You can count on us to respect you and your automobile. If your vehicle keeps blowing fuses, stop by our shop today. We’ll find the problem and fix it.
