finding the problem with a car that doesn't always start

Driving in a car on a hot summer day can be brutal if your air conditioning system is broken. You can't seem to escape the heat no matter what you do. Opening the window helps as long as you keep moving, but every time you stop, the heat can quickly overwhelm you and your car. If you want to drive in comfort you have to get the air conditioner system fixed as soon as possible, but first you have to know what you have to fix. Here is how you can figure out if it is a bad fuse that is causing your air conditioner to stop working.

Locating Fuses

Fuse boxes are typically located either along the driver's side door underneath the dash board, or it can be located in the engine compartment on the driver's side. If you can't find the fuse box on your car, you should check your owner's manual.

The owner's manual should also have a diagram in it that will tell you which fuses are the ones that operate the air conditioning system. You will want to pull those fuses out of the fuse box and visually inspect them. If you have an old car, the fuse is a glass tube with metal ends. In newer cars, the fuse is made out of plastic and has two prongs that clip into the fuse box.

How to Pull Out a Fuse

There should be a device in the fuse box that you can use to pull out the fuse, but you can still get the fuses out even if the device is missing. For older cars, take a small flat head screwdriver and carefully slip it under the glass part of the fuse. You can then gently dislodge the fuse out of the metal clips holding it in place. In newer vehicles, you can take a pair of needle nose pliers, grab the end of the plastic fuse, and pull the fuse out.

Inspecting Fuse

You will see a thin wire in the glass tubes. If the wire is broken, you'll need to replace the fuse. In plastic fuses, there is a flat piece of metal that zigzags through the plastic. If that piece of metal is damaged or broken, you'll need to replace the fuse.

Replacement Fuse

The fuses will have their amperage stamped on them, and you should make sure you replace the fuse with an identical one. For example, a fuse stamped with 20-amps should only be replaced by another 20-amp fuse.

If this doesn't fix the problem, consider calling in a professional like Modern Auto Air.