I’ve been driving the family car for a few weeks. It has a blown fuse that I haven’t gotten around to fixing yet. Yesterday, the car was completely dead in the morning. Can a blown fuse drain your car battery?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
No, it’s unlikely that a blown fuse is draining your battery.
A fuse is a conduit for electricity. A blown fuse will simply stop a headlight or turn signal from functioning.
In some cases, it can lead to an open circuit that draws energy. Other causes could be a malfunctioning fuse, leading to a parasitic drain on the battery (think of a glove box light that won’t turn off). A relay switch stuck in the ON position could drain the battery, too.
To identify the problem, test the battery and use a fuse tester. In your situation, the most likely problem is a weak battery—or perhaps an interior light was left on.
Luckily, a new fuse is pretty affordable (under $20).
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