Fuses (1 Viewer)

[Garauld]

I try to envision what items can ruin a good driving experience. The subject of fuses is on my list. If you haven't peeked into your two fuse boxes under the hood and one under the glovebox - you should. (see photos) Most fuses located there are of the mini low-profile type which I was not familiar with. There are three spares (7.5, 10 and 20 amp) in the driver's side box as well as an extractor tool attached to the cover. I didn't have any of these mini fuses so I ordered a 180pc kit off Amazon for $6 which included larger sizes as well.

 

[Mike'sGX]

Does anyone have a better description of the fuses? Some listed on the cover are obvious but some are very vague.

 

[Garauld]

Does anyone have a better description of the fuses?

Send me a PM with a shortish list of fuses that are of interest to you. I have some wiring diagrams and may be able to help you out.

 

[YellowLab]

I try to envision what items can ruin a good driving experience. The subject of fuses is on my list. If you haven't peeked into your two fuse boxes under the hood and one under the glovebox - you should. (see photos) Most fuses located there are of the mini low-profile type which I was not familiar with. There are three spares (7.5, 10 and 20 amp) in the driver's side box as well as an extractor tool attached to the cover. I didn't have any of these mini fuses so I ordered a 180pc kit off Amazon for $6 which included larger sizes as well.

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Which kit did you order from Amazon?

Also - what is the fuse for the trailer electronics?

 

[Garauld]

I see that the kit I ordered from Amazon is no longer available, but this kit would be a suitable alternative:
306 pc fuse kit

There appears to be several fuses for the trailer system:

 

[YellowLab]

I see that the kit I ordered from Amazon is no longer available, but this kit would be a suitable alternative:
306 pc fuse kit

There appears to be several fuses for the trailer system:

Thank you!

 

[RetiredSteelWorker]

I've seen mini fuses but I'm not sure I've ever seen mini low-profile fuses.

I am planning to DIY install a dash-cam when I get my GX. Have you done so, and/or do you know if there is clearance under the fuse box covers for the so called "fuse taps" used for dashcams?

Below are a few examples from Amazon, I'm sure there are more this is what came back for my searches.

When I saw your updated fuse kit from Amazon, it made me think it will be a good idea to order both spare fuses and taps at the same time. The one downside is you don't know ahead of time if the fuse taps will fit in the fuse box with the fuse box cover in place. Any thoughts?

16 Pack 4 Types Fuse Tap
16 Pack 4 Types 12V Car Add-a-Circuit Fuse Tap Adapter
Mini Fuse Tap Kit Add-a-Circuit

 

[Garauld]

I've not seen those fuse taps before but I think there's enough room under the cover for them.

 

[YellowLab]

I see that the kit I ordered from Amazon is no longer available, but this kit would be a suitable alternative:
306 pc fuse kit

There appears to be several fuses for the trailer system:

Great kit - arrived yesterday

 

[MinnowGT]

is there a separate fuse for the wireless charger? I couldnt tell from the pictures. was wondering if we can tap off for something more useful.

 

[Garauld]

is there a separate fuse for the wireless charger?

Apparently, yes [ECU-B, 10A]:

 

[MinnowGT]

ooh awesome thanks.

 

[whitexkr]

Fuses are a safety device that prevents damage and potentially fire. Please only buy known major brands like Bussmann or Littelfuse. See this video for some testing on these cheap Amazon brands; .

 

[RetiredSteelWorker]

Fuses are a safety device that prevents damage and potentially fire. Please only buy known major brands like Bussmann or Littelfuse. See this video for some testing on these cheap Amazon brands; .

Good advice. Especially for a $70k - $90k asset. And not surprising.

NAPA and AutoZone have been selling Bussmann fuse kits since before Amazon existed.

My lesson learned from a few Amazon recent purchases is you have to be cautious and extra super careful. Anything that seems too good to be true probably is. I'm only a sample of one. Yet it hppened too many times that it was some random, statistical failure

Just in the last 24 months I've gotten 1) A $200 HVAC UV replacement light bulb fail after three months (from someone with 'HVAC Supply' in their business name, and where the manufacturer's warranty period is 36 months). 2) A three-pack of USB 110V wall outlet/receptacle adapters that don't meet spec, don't power devices that other adapters do. 3) A cover for a fireplace that didn't even come close to the listed HxW measurements, it was off, short, by three or four inches. In each case I hesitated to buy but do so anyway.

Seller's can make up any name then want, ("Larry's HVAC Supply", "Moe's A+ Fireplace Covers", "Curly's USB Adapter Store") sell out of their home address, and you're none the wiser until something doesn't work. Tip off: the return address for a (warranty) return is some residential house in some random cul-de-sac neighborhood in Florida, or even worse a UPS storefront.

This may explain why @Garauld's original fuse kit is no longer available. Seller's from China seem to make up interesting sounding storefront names and then change their storefront names, or just disappear. A lot.

In all fairness, one point not mentioned in the video is Amazon will go to bat for you when something goes wrong. Amazon will use their leverage to pressure a seller to make good on a warranty. However, don't count on this to always work in your favor. And for a $12 fuse kit, when the failure might not be apparent and may not happen for three or four years from the date of purchase, probably no way. Say you are one-year into a two-year warranty and the seller from China has disappeared. You're stuck.

 

[Wayne]

Some comment on fuses. Their function 99.9% of the time is to prevent a fire from a short circuit. I would not worry about a 2A fuse that takes 10A to open. It would be a very unusual fault that would cause 9A to flow in a low current circuit. I have had more fuses open for no reason than have prevented a fire from over current. A fuse operating near, but below its current limit can also fail due to thermal fatigue if there are many current cycles. I doubt if there an any wires in a car as small as 24 Ga and its fusing current is 29 amps so it would be protected by fuse opening at 10 amps. I am not defending crappy merchandise from Amazon, just easing peoples fear of fuses. I know some people would be scared to death to put a 10A fuse to replace a 5A one (if they didn't have the exact replacement), but they should not worry about the exact opening current for a fuse. I have seen bad fuse holders almost catch fire because of a bad connection to a fuse, so I worry more about the quality of the fuse holders than the fuses. I designed high reliability electronics (20 year life underwater systems) for over 30 years and almost never used fuses. The ones I used were Mil-Spec devices that were soldered to the circuit board.