The electrical circuits of the vehicle are protected by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers, and fusible links. Fuse blocks are located under the instrument panel and in the engine compartment. The fuse/relay box, mounted on the left side of the engine compartment, contains diodes, fuses, and relays, all listed by location and function on the underside of its cover. To open the fuse panel cover, pull from the left kick panel in early models or the right side of the console in later models, then disengage the two cover locator tabs. Miniaturized fuses with blade terminal design allow for easy fingertip removal and replacement. If an electrical component fails, always check the fuse first using a test light to check for power at the terminal tips; a lack of power on one side indicates a blown fuse, which can also be visually confirmed. Replace blown fuses with the correct type, matching the amperage value molded into the fuse body; using a fuse with an incorrect rating can cause damage. If a replacement fuse immediately fails, isolate and correct the underlying issue, typically a short circuit, before replacing the fuse again. Some circuits also utilize fusible links, which are found in the engine compartment fuse/relay box and are used for circuits carrying high current or those not ordinarily fused. Fusible links, which look similar to large fuses, can be unplugged or unbolted and replaced with one of the same amperage after disconnecting the cable from the negative battery terminal.
