Question: I’ve been having some problems with fuses blowing in my car, so my mechanic recommends replacing the fuse box. What’s the average car fuse box replacement cost?
Answer: Car fuses are cheap—between $1 to $5 each depending on if your car has high-energy circuits. Another factor keeping the price down is that most drivers can safely swap these fuses out themselves.
The fuse box that contains them is more expensive—around $15 for cheaper versions to a few hundred dollars for certain vehicle models. Also driving up the cost is that if you need to change the fuse box out, you should have a professional mechanic do it. Of course, the total price will fluctuate based on the make and model of your car, plus local labor costs where you’re getting the work done.
All of the electric components in your car, from the wiper blades to the infotainment system, run on circuits. If your car experiences a sudden power surge, a fuse will sacrifice itself by blowing or melting, stopping the flow of power before the expensive components that share that circuit get ruined. Because they’re so important to the rest of the car functioning properly, it’s a good idea to regularly check fuse boxes for signs of corrosion or damage.
Are there DIY solutions for fixing a fuse in the fuse box myself?
If you notice that a component of your car is dead or working sporadically, try replacing the fuse.
Check the owner’s manual to locate the fuse boxes in your car. It’s likely to have two—one in the engine compartment and one inside the car, often beneath or within the dashboard, or near the steering wheel. In some vehicles, fuse boxes are easy to access; but in others, they could be harder to reach or hidden behind a panel. The harder it is to access the fuse box, the more time it will take a mechanic to repair and the more expensive it will be to fix.
The fuse box in the engine compartment typically controls things like the anti-lock brake pump and cooling system. The internal one will control components like the lights inside the car.
To replace your own fuses, open the cover of the fuse box and look for a diagram on the inside. This indicates the location and purpose of each fuse within the box. Disconnect the car battery, then swap in a new fuse, making sure it’s the correct type and amperage. They’re usually color coded. Your car may have a fuse puller tool inside the fuse boxes or attached to its lid, but you can also use tweezers to do this. If a new fuse doesn’t get the circuit going again, there could be damage to the fuse box itself and you probably need to visit a mechanic.
If a fuse keeps blowing, electrical problems persist, or if the fuse box looks ruined, there’s probably an underlying cause that needs a more serious electrical repair. If you identify which of your car’s components are on the same circuit with the broken fuse, it could help you figure out what the underlying problem is. It’s always a good idea to engage a professional in such situations.
Deirdra Funcheon is a journalist with a master\\\’s degree from Boston University and more than 20 years of experience covering a broad range of topics. She has worked at Univision (on the investigative team at Fusion), Axios (where she covered Miami-area news) and Bisnow (covering the commercial real estate industry). At Jerry, she aims to empower drivers with knowledge about how their vehicles work and how best to handle repairs, insurance and other complications of car ownership.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
