Protection of electrical circuits in the automobile is provided by fused or breaker assemblies and fusible links, the former being the main fuse/relay panel situated in the engine hood and the civil fuse/relay panel being situated inside the passenger compartment. Different sizes of fuses that include small, medium, and large fuses are installed in the fuse blocks, and all have a blade terminal; while the medium and large sizes of the fuses can be pulled out using just your hand, the small fuses have to be removed using pliers or a plastic fuse puller. If an electrical component has become non-operative, then it is crucial to check the fuse first; this together with using a test light to probe power at terminal ends will indicate a blown fuse, which can be confirmed visually by observing the melted element on the fuse. It is very important to have an exact match for the blinks because putting a different fuse though the physical size may fit the circuit, is not recommended because each circuit would require a specific type of fusing material. If a replacement fuse is burnt out instantly, the cause, usually a short circuit caused by faulty wiring has to be tackled before the fusing process. Also some circuits are fused by fusible links including those modules which are not fused, or those circuits which carry large current like the link between the alternator and the starter motor, these are located in the engine compartment fuse/relay box and should be replaced with links of similar current rating. If a fusible link has blown, then the circuit needs to be crossed out before a new one can be put in.
