Which Fuse Is For The Dashboard Lights?

It is located in the fuse box which can be either under the hood or the dashboard depending on the car model. The fuse box lid has the diagram which shows exactly the location of the dashboard fuse in the fuse box. The dashboard light fuse is a low amperage fuse around 5 to 15 A.

But how do you look for the signs of a blown fuse? Are there any symptoms you need to look out for? Let’s go with this article to find that out. 

Which Fuse Is For the Dashboard Light?

Let’s start by opening the fuse box in your car. There are two fuse boxes and normally you will find them under the hood or near the dashboard. Your dashboard fuse can be in either of these fuse boxes but more chances are that it’s under the dashboard. 

But to verify, you should go through your user manual and check the fuse box itself. To check, just open the fuse box and look at the diagram on the lid, it will show you the location of the dashboard fuse. Normally it is within the range of 5 A to 15 A.

Unfortunately, there is no universal mark for dashboard fuses and the location varies by the car models.

For example, for a Chevy Aveo it is a 10 A fuse with the mark PK/LP RH. 

Now, what happens if your dashboard fuse gets blown? Is there any way to know if a fuse is blown? Yes, you have to look for the symptoms of a blown fuse. 

Reasons of a Blown Dashboard Fuse

Following are some of the reasons for a blown dashboard fuse

Short Circuit

Short circuit happens when between two circuits there is an unintended connection by the electric circuit. The result is more current flow and whenever there is a current overflow, your fuse will get blown. 

Wrong Amperage 

Using a fuse with an incorrect amperage can cause it to blow. For example, if you use a 15 A fuse in place of a 20 A fuse, the fuse amperage has been compromised, the circuit current flow and voltage rating remain the same resulting in instant fuse blow. 

The 20 A fuse has more current flow, if you use 15 A fuse then there will be an overflow of current and the fuse will be blown.

Battery

If your car has a bad battery then there will be a voltage drop in the system. Your car needs around 12.6 to 14.4 V to function properly and whenever there is a drop in that, there is more current flow to maintain that power. This increased current flow results in the blown fuse.

The result is the overflow of current through the battery and your dashboard fuse gets blown. 

Symptoms of a Blown Dashboard Fuse

Following are some of the symptoms of a blown dashboard fuse.

1. Gauges Are Working but the Gauge lights are not working
2. Tail Lights Not Working
3. Wind Wipers Not Working

Now let’s proceed to how to fix your instrument panel problems by replacing the blown dashboard fuse.

Steps of Replacing the Dashboard Fuse 

To replace your instrument panel light fuse first, look for the fuse box. Your car should have around two fuse boxes, one under the hood and the other beneath the dashboard. Now, depending on the model of your car it is either on the fuse box under the hood or around the dashboard.

To confirm the information for your car, check the user manual or look at the diagram on the fuse box lid. That diagram gives a clear instruction of the location of the dashboard fuse on the fuse box. 

After you find your dashboard fuse, remove it. Then grab the new fuses and put them back in their place. Make sure the amperage matches. 

That’s it. It’s as simple as that. Your dashboard should start working after that. In fact, most of the time a fuse keeps getting blown, you have to replace it with a more suitable amperage fuse or just fix the wiring. 

Dashboard Lights Not Working Despite Functioning Fuses

So you are in a situation where the instrument panel lights are not working but the fuses are good. What could be the reason? There are quite a lot. 

Faulty Wiring

Let’s start with faulty wiring. If the instrument cluster wires are loose or not properly connected then it will not send the signal accurately. Of course, you need to consider that it is recommended to use around 18-22 gauge of wiring for the dashboard. Any smaller means you are reducing the conductivity.

Lower electrical conductivity means the dashboard lights will not be working. 

Dimmer Switch

Your dimmer switch helps to adjust the instrument cluster lights to either too dim or bright. Now, if the dimmer switch is damaged then the dashboard lights will not work properly despite your fuse’s conditions. 

The solution here is to just adjust the dimmer switch.To verify if your dimmer switch is faulty, do the following

1. Turn on the car headlights
2. Now find the dimmer switch and just adjust it
3. Check the dashboard light and see if there is any change. Any change means that the problem is solved. 
4. But the dashboard light doesn’t change, so the problem is something else. Either a switch or lightbulb. 

Dashboard Light Bulb

This is the last step after you verify that the dashboard fuse and dimmer switch are not the source of the problem. If your dashboard light bulbs are damaged, then the solution is to just replace it. To fix this, you need to replace the dashboard light bulb. (1) 

Should I Replace The Dashboard Light Myself?

Yes, If you are comfortable working with DIY work or have experience working with electrical components then yes, go for it. Even for non-experienced people, it is not a difficult task. There are so many good guides (How to Replace Dashboard Lights (In Depth)) to help you out. 

But if you are not comfortable, that’s alright and you should consult a professional to change your dashboard light. 

FAQs

Conclusion

We hope that now you know which fuse is for the dashboard lights. You can easily diagnose the problem, identify the source, and then fix it. But definitely keep in mind that if your dashboards keep disturbing, it’s not just your fuse. Finally, keep the replacement cost in mind while fixing this problem.