You may not know, the car fuse was invented in 1976 by the scientist Littelfuse, but it was not until 1980 that this device was widely used on vehicles. Automotive fuses have the function of protecting electrical components and avoiding fire and damage. Therefore, this device is considered an indispensable “bodyguard” in every car to protect electrical equipment. The fuse panel on a car is shown in its technical sign language, the user must understand the symbol content to solve the problems that occur.
Depending on the size, design, and configuration, car fuses are divided into many different types. For each car manufacturer, the manufacturer will use a separate type of fuse to suit the purpose of use and operating needs.
The car’s total fuse is usually located under the bonnet or table board, the car owner can easily observe and check this part when a problem occurs. The fuse is connected to the wire to absorb the current when suddenly overloaded to protect the safety of the motor’s components during operation.
Therefore, the phenomenon of a wet fuse will cause many serious consequences if you do not detect it in time and fix it. What to do if your fuse box gets wet – The detailed answer will be in the article below.
What To Do If Your Fuse Box Gets Wet
If the fuse in your car is wet from rain or waterlogging, the first thing you need to do quickly is to dry the fuse by all means. A wet car fuse will not be able to protect all electrical equipment in the car. It may cause a short circuit resulting in an electrical fire.
Therefore, it will lead to a very serious consequence to the electrical system of the car. It is important to keep your fuse box dry and free from moisture to prevent this from happening. If the fuse on your car is wet, you should follow some of the methods below to fix it in time.
- Turn off the fuse.
- Open the fuse box and remove all the fuses from the box.
- Use a hair dryer or heat gun on low to dry the inside of the fuse box. You should adjust the temperature and distance accordingly because the heat can cause the plastic components in the fuse to melt.
- Once everything is dry, reinsert the fuse and turn the power back on.
How To Remove Moisture From The Fuse?
During a quick fix, you can easily dry the fuse and keep it out of the way. However, moisture may still exist inside the vessels or the air inside. Therefore, you need to continue to dry the fuse by removing moisture in some of the ways below.
Method 1: If your fuse is small, you can try putting it in the oven in the lowest setting for a few hours. It will help evaporate the water lurking inside the fuse after you’ve tried to dry the outside.
Method 2: With large fuses, you can try using a hair dryer on the highest setting. You should hold the hair dryer about a foot or two away from the fuse box and maneuver it around so that all sides of the fuse box heating up. You can also use a fan to remove moisture and speed up the natural drying process of the fuse.
The moisture in the fuse may take longer to escape than the wet outside. It is important that you completely remove the moisture in the circuits, and the air circulates inside to avoid short-circuiting.
Should I Use The WD40 To Remove Moisture From The Fuse?
Many people still believe that using WD40 products to spray on car fuses to remove moisture and fix wet fuse problems is the most effective. However, the WD40 cannot deliver the best performance in this case. Therefore, you should not use this product to spray car fuses for drying.
Although WD40 can help you remove moisture and rust from many parts of your car, you should not spray it on the electrical system on the fuse. The reason is that WD40 is a petroleum-based product. So if you spray this product on the fuse it will corrode metal surfaces. In addition, the WD40 can get caught in the electrical connections and cause a fire or explosion.
You should try using heat methods such as a hair dryer, or heat gun to dry the fuse slowly. The use of WD40 can cause more disadvantages and serious consequences if you do not apply it correctly.
How To Remove Rust On The Fuse?
Dampness can easily cause rust on your fuses. Therefore, if you discover that the fuse has rusted, you should clean it and remove the rust immediately. You should follow some of the steps below.
- You should disconnect all power on the car and the fuse before starting to clean.
- You can then use a brush to clean the rust or stains on the fuse.
- If the fuse has rust stains that are difficult to clean, you can use sandpaper or an iron cleaner to remove the rust.
- You may need to use a rust converter or primer if the rust is particularly severe.
- Once all rust has been removed, you should apply a new coat of paint or sealant to help prevent rust from returning.
Conclude
The fuse on the car is one of the important parts to protect the electrical equipment and power supply if the car has a problem. So, a wet fuse is extremely dangerous and can have serious consequences for a car’s electrical system.
The first thing you need to do is quickly dry the fuse with a hair dryer or heat gun. You need to move the devices constantly to dry all the outer surfaces of the fuse. If the fuse still has moisture inside the circuit or the air inside, you should continue to use the thermal device to dry it for several hours. This process can take time because if you don’t remove the moisture completely, it will cause a short or a fire to the fuse.
If you are unable to perform the fuse drying process at home, you should seek help from professionals or professional repairmen. Because a fuse with moisture will have serious consequences for the electrical system of a car.