THE fuse box is probably the most overlooked component in the operation of a vehicle.

“Out of sight, out mind,” agrees Andre Hylton of Andre Auto Supplies.

But fuses regulate the electrical function of all vehicle parts — horns, lights, AC — you name it.

“It is very important. It regulates, it protects, it is also a central stage to diagnose problems,” said Hylton. “All wires go through the fuse box.”

In fact, in most cases of vehicle failure the fuse is the first thing that should be checked.

If in doubt about the location of the fuses, consult the owners manual as the fuse box is positioned at different points, depending on the vehicle make.

However, the most common position is in the engine compartment near the battery. Some vehicles also have a fuse box beneath the dash, just above the pedals.

Having found the fuse box, the cover tells a story. Every fuse is identified telling the component it controls and the amperage — (5 amp, 10 amp and so on).

The idea behind a fuse is that it designed to ‘blow’ if there’s problem in the device it controls.

So in the case of a problem each fuse may be checked by pulling it from the box using a bird-beak pliers or tweezer.

Looking at the thin strip of metal inside the plastic housing identifies a blown fuse. Its simple, if it broken the fuse is blown.

In replacing a blown fuse the same amperage as designated on the fuse box should be used.

“Using a higher amperage could cause a fire or damage the component it controls,” Hylton cautioned.

Incidentally, fuses are pretty inexpensive, typically costing far less than $100 each and actually save a much higher spend in damaged vehicle components.