How To Change A Blown Fuse In Ford Ranger?

By Nick Marchenko, PhD

Fuses play an essential role in ensuring the proper operation of a Ford Ranger's electrical systems. However, as time passes, fuses inside your vehicle can wear out and fail, which leads to the malfunction of the specific electrical functions they control.

Replacing a fuse in a Ford Ranger is a straightforward process, and it's a skill that every driver should possess. It could be extremely useful in a difficult situation. The steps for completing this task are detailed in the following article.

Key Takeaways:

• Fuses prevent expensive electrical components from failing by breaking the circuit during voltage surges.
• Replacing a Ford Ranger fuse is simple, but ensuring the new fuse matches the original's size and amperage is crucial.
• Using fuses with higher amperage than recommended can lead to component failure or fire hazards.
• Always carry a spare set of fuses in your Ford Ranger to handle unexpected fuse failures on the road.

Why do Ford Ranger fuses fail?

The principle of operation of the vehicle's fuse box is quite simple - this element is inserted into the electric circuit at the place of its break. In good condition, the fuse passes current without any problems.

However, when some fault occurs in the system and the current going to the node exceeds the maximum allowable value, the fuse breaks, thereby breaking the circuit and preventing the juice from reaching its endpoint.

Thus, from a sharp increase in voltage, only a fuse with a price of a few cents fails, and not a complete node, which costs several hundred dollars.

How to understand Ford Ranger’s fuse has failed?

If any electrical system fails, you will understand it immediately. Your car’s headlights, wipers, and air conditioner may stop working.

In this case, the main thing is to start with the simple, namely, - to check the fuses, because there is a possibility that they are the problem and expensive repairs can be avoided. To do this, you need to find the fuse responsible for this system and look at it.

This is what a working fuse looks like:

And this is what a burned fuse looks like:

This means that there is a malfunction in it, and it is worth replacing it so that the system will work again.

How to change a blown fuse in your Ford Ranger?

The process of replacing Ford Ranger fuses is quite simple and does not require much effort. All you need is:

• New fuse;
• Fuse puller;
• Vehicle`s manual.

Find the location of the blown fuse

Usually, there are several fuse blocks in the Ford Ranger - under the hood, in the interior, and in the trunk (optional). 

Each of them has its own set of fuses. The location of the exact fuse you need is mentioned in the manual of your car.

If you have lost the manual or cannot find the necessary information there, you can find the fuse box diagram for your Ford Ranger here.

Remove the fuse box cover

Remove the plastic cover from the fuse box. It may be fixed with bolts, clamps, etc. Unlock it and remove it.

Locate the fuse you need

Find the fuse that is responsible for your system. Usually, they aren't marked in any way, so you need to find the fuse you need using the manual or Ford Ranger’s fuse box diagram on our website.

Pull out the fuse

It is best to do this with a fuse puller, which is a small pair of pliers for this task. Catch the fuse and pull on yourself.

Be careful, in the process of pulling out the fuse, the "leg" of the fuse may break and remain in the seat.

If this happens, pull it out with tongs or pliers. Check immediately if the Ford Ranger fuse is blown. If not, then its replacement will not change anything, and you`ll have to search further for the cause of the malfunction.

Install the new fuse in place

Replace the new fuse. Make sure that you choose the same one that was installed. Also, it should be the same size and amperage as before.

Types of fuses:

• Blade Type of Fuses;
• Maxi heavy-duty blade fuses;
• Regular (ATO/ATC) Blade Fuses;
• Mini Blade Fuses and Low-Profile Mini Blade Fuses;
• Micro 2 and Micro 3 Blade Fuses;
• Bosch Fuses;
• Glass Tube Type of Fuses;
• Lucas Fuses.

Note to self. The last 3 types of fuses are outdated and are no longer used in the automotive industry. You may find them in cars that were manufactured before the mid 80's.

Important: Use Ford Ranger fuses of the same amperage rating as the system has. If you take fuses with a lower amperage, for example, 15A where 25A is needed, then this is acceptable. 

The system will function, but there is a high probability that the fuse will blow again soon because the voltage that is nominal for the system is too high for it and under normal conditions for the system, it will fail.

This solution can only be used as a temporary option to get to the repair shop or garage and replace the fuse with the correct one.

Speaking about a fuse with a higher amperage (for example, 30A, where the rating is 15A), this shouldn't be done.

While it may appear to be an instant fix, this action has serious consequences. In such a case, the fuse could keep working during emergencies such as sudden voltage drops or short circuits. 

However, this can cause the component it's supposed to protect to fail, or even worse, create a fire hazard. It is critical to point out that using higher amperage fuses under any circumstances is not recommended.

Check system functionality

After you have replaced the blown fuse, check the functionality of the Ford Ranger’s electrical system. Make sure everything works properly.

Close the fuse box cover

Close it tightly to prevent any water and dirt from getting there, as it may harm the system.

Always carry a spare set of fuses in your Ford Ranger

Put them in the glove box, or fix them in a special place on the fuse cover.

It doesn't cost you anything, but it can help you a lot. No one knows when your Ford Ranger’s fuse will blow again - near home or on a long road. It may be the fuse of the license plate light bulb, or it may be the fuel pump fuse, without which the Ford Ranger won`t start. 

Therefore, it is better to have several fuses with you in the car, just in case.

You don't want to get stuck somewhere in the middle of the road because of such a small thing, do you?

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I replaced Ford Ranger’s fuse, but it still keeps blowing - what is the cause?

It may occur that after you`ve replaced the fuse, and driven a little, it fails again. There are two main reasons for this:

• You chose a fuse with a lower amperage than required (as we wrote above). In this case, even with normal loads, the fuse will blow, because the nominal voltage is critical for it. Look at the amperage of the fuse - it's written in small numbers on the top - and compare it to what is listed in the manual. Replace the fuse with a suitable one - and the problem may disappear.
• The second reason this can happen is a malfunction in the system itself. There is some problem that causes voltage surges, which, in turn, leads to blown fuses.  If this happens again and again, you should contact an electrician to find and eliminate the very cause - the malfunction of the electrical system.

To Wrap It Up

When suddenly your Ford Ranger fuses fail, you have to replace them immediately. It`s crucial to select the fuse with the right amperage rating as the blown one was to prevent any harm and issues in the future.

It`s advised to carry a set of spare fuses in your vehicle just in case to be prepared for any unexpected situations on the way.
 

Nick Marchenko, PhD

Industrial Engineer & Automotive Content Specialist

Nick writes in-depth guides on car clubs, engine specs, vehicle ownership, and modifications, combining engineering knowledge with automotive passion.

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