Fuse for Dashboard Gauges

Let’s look at how to repair fuses for dashboard gauges below.

Most basic cars have at least a speedometer, tachometer, temperature, odometer, and fuel gauge in the instrument cluster. However, advanced units can have oil pressure gauges, voltmeters, and more.

These instruments are critical when driving because they give you information about the vehicle, including vital engine parameters.

So when they fail, you will not be aware of damaging factors, such as high engine temperature.

And their primary cause of failure is a faulty fuse. Here’s how to fix this dashboard gauge issue.

Typical Causes of Dashboard Gauge Fuse Failure

These fuses can fail due to either of these causes.

Short-Circuiting

Shorts or ground faults along the dashboard gauge wire will drain more current out of the circuit than the fuse can handle, causing it to burn.

Improper Fuse Replacement

Always use the correct type, size, and rating when replacing a dashboard gauge fuse. Otherwise, the fuse will short or permanently damage the gauges if you use a higher amperage rating than required.

A vehicle’s fuse box with the fuse amperage rating labeled in the top part

Aging

Like other car parts, fuses deteriorate with time, meaning older vehicles have higher chances of dashboard gauge failure. So, you should service the fuse box regularly to replace fuses or repair damages before they catch you off guard.

Faulty Wiring

Correct wiring involves using the recommended wire gauge and connecting them as per the vehicle’s dashboard gauge wiring diagram.

Failure to do that can overheat or melt the wires, blow the fuse, or damage the cluster components.

Therefore, you should test the wiring after doing a new installation before taking your car on the road.

Testing involves turning on the ignition and checking if all components function as required.

Electrical Overloads

If you under-fuse the dashboard gauge circuit, the fuse will experience an overload that will burn the thin wire inside and cut the electric current flow.

But if the system experiences an overload and has the correct fuse rating, check for issues like shorting and ground faults.

An electric car’s battery range gauge

Corrosion

Like aging, corrosion occurs over time and can hamper electric current flow due to the oxide layers that form above the metal surface.

The issue usually occurs due to high humidity in fuse boxes with damaged seals. So, if you find corroded wires or fuses when inspecting the fuse box, replace them and check the box’s seal.

Signs of Dashboard Gauge Fuse Failure

Dashboard gauge fuse failure can cause intermittent or cut current flow to the dash lights and gauges, causing these noticeable signs.

Flickering Dashboard Lights

Flickering lights imply intermittent circuit connections. This issue might persist or shortly occur before the lights go out. The latter means the circuit connection has gone off either along the wires or in the fuse.

A car dashboard instrument cluster with all the lights on

Unresponsive Gauge Panel

Instrument clusters should work when you turn on the ignition or drive the vehicle. If they remain static, zero current or no signals reach them due to a faulty fuse.

Buzzing Sounds

Buzzing sounds usually indicate arcing caused by loose connections in the fuse box. The solution might be as simple as pushing the fuse firmly back into its slot or installing a new one.

Electrical Burning Smell

Car blade fuses have more plastic than metal. So if the metal contacts arc or overheat, they can burn the plastic and emit a burning smell.

Which Fuse Is For The Dashboard Lights?

Modern cars usually have two fuse boxes, one in the engine bay and the other under the dashboard on the driver’s side or behind the glove box.

To replace the fuse for the dashboard gauges, you first have to locate the location of the dash gauge fuse.

Usually, fuses for external components, like brake lights and tail lights, are in the engine bay fuse box near the battery.

But fuses for internal components, such as the dashboard lights and gauges, are in the box under the dashboard or behind the glove compartment.

How to Replace the Fuse for Dashboard Gauges

Use these steps to complete the replacement.

Step 1: Locate the Fuse

Although we’ve determined the fuse panel the dashboard gauge fuse is in, you must locate the specific fuse to check or replace in the box.

You can refer to the fuse diagram on the underside of the fuse box cover, which should label them as “lights” or “dash lights.” It should have a low rating (5-7 amps), a number marked on the top visible part.

Step 2: Inspect the Fuse

Instead of replacing the fuse immediately, check it for signs of corrosion, plastic melting, or other failure signs. It is vital to troubleshoot the cause of the problem to rectify it from the source.

A mechanic pulls a fuse from its slot in the fuse box using a fuse clip tool.

For instance, if you detect corrosion, locate and seal the opening that allows moisture into the box. Also, check the extent of the rust on other nearby fuses.

Use a pair of needle-nose pliers or fuse puller to pluck the fuse(s) for inspection.

Step 3: Replace the Fuse

Replace the damaged dashboard light fuse with one bearing the same amperage rating. You can use the diagram in the fuse panel cover or your car’s manual to determine the correct rating.

Step 4: Test the Dashboard Lights and Gauges

Test the fuse before mounting the plastic cover on the fuse box. Turn on the ignition and check the gauges. You might have to turn on the engine to check if the tachometer is functioning.

Other Causes of Dashboard Gauge Failure

Dashboard lights or gauges can fail to work after replacing the fuse due to any of these issues.

Bad Instrument Voltage Regulator or Wiring

In some cases, the entire gauge cluster can fail to work. In others, part of the instrument cluster can fail, indicating you have some faulty gauges.

You might have a faulty voltage regulator if the entire gauge fails. This gauge failure implies all the scales read zero (the lowest point) or move erratically.

A voltage regulator module

The gauge might also get stuck at the highest possible reading, indicating a faulty voltage regulator or a wiring issue.

Stripped Gear or Broken Cable

After replacing the fuse, all other gauges might start working except the speedometer. Some speedos use cables instead of sensors to get the speed readings, meaning a failure in this gauge indicates a stripped gear or broken wire.

Faulty Sender Unit or Sensor

The gas gauge relies on data from the fuel-sending unit to display the fuel level. So, the fuel gauge won’t work if the sender is faulty.

A fuel gauge with its empty warning light on

If other gauges, such as oil pressure, battery charge, and coolant, fail, the issue might be their respective sensors, wiring, or the gauge itself.

Fuse for Dashboard Gauges: Broken Bulb

Warning lights get power from the dashboard gauge fuse; if they fail, it could be due to a blown light bulb.

Fuse for Dashboard Gauges: Broken Wire (Wiring Discontinuity)

A wiring discontinuity can cause the dashboard lights to stay off and the gauges to remain at their lowest point.

This cut can either be on the positive wire bringing power to the cluster or a ground issue, and you can use a multimeter or automotive test light to check for continuity.

However, loose or bad ground can cause the gauge to stick to the highest reading or move erratically.

Fuse for Dashboard Gauges: Faulty Gauge

Some new cars have electronic instrument clusters that don’t have separate gauges to receive inputs from different sending units.

In such a case, you might have to replace the entire component because you can’t fix individual parts.

A modern digital LCD instrument cluster

Wrap Up

Replacing a fuse for dashboard gauges is straightforward, but the issue might run deeper. So, inspecting the type of damage on the fuse is vital to help pinpoint the problem’s cause.

After repairing any issues in the fuse box and replacing the fuse, test the system to see if the gauges and lights resume normal functioning.

If not, troubleshoot the problem using the suggestions above based on the visible signs.

Fuse for Dashboard Gauges: How To Repair Dashboard Gauges and Lights

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