Since a car is made of several electrical components, it only makes sense that there are some measures to protect these components from short circuits and high voltage, right? Fuses are one of the ways your car’s electrical system is protected from damage. If you wonder whether the reverse lights have a fuse, you’ll find the answer in this article.
The reverse light fuse is located in the fusebox near the dashboard. Burnt fuses can’t be repaired and must be replaced with another fuse of similar specifications.
Below, you’ll learn about the importance of reverse lights and what to do when they stop working. Here we go.
The Importance Of Reverse Lights
Reverse lights are indispensable components of any car. Usually mounted at the rear end of the car, these lights are designed in such a way that they light up when you are engaging the reverse gear. This alerts other drivers and road users of your intent to reverse your vehicle, allowing them to take appropriate actions. As a result, reverse lights are important for safety on the road.
No matter the brand, make, model, or cost of a car, reverse lights perform the same important function. Another benefit of reverse lights is their illumination in the dark or when daylight isn’t enough for good visibility. So, when the reverse light comes on in these situations, the driver knows where he/she is and how much they need to reverse.
Believe it or not, reverse lights can also improve the aesthetics of a car. And for people that care a lot about the look of their cars, that’s another reason to have it.
It’s worth mentioning that you are legally required to have two sets of rear reverse lights on your car. And the reverse lights must be white, as no other color is accepted.
Problems With Reverse Lights
Like any other component in your car, the reverse light can have issues, including the bulbs burning out. When this happens, you’ll need to replace the bulbs. While replacing burnt-out bulbs is usually enough to get the lights operational again, sometimes this might not be the case.
In this situation, you must conduct extra investigations and check if the sensor is still working. There could also be a problem with the reverse light switch or fuse. The reverse light switch is connected to the gear selector mechanism, and any issue with the system mentioned above will affect the reverse light.
Does Reverse Light Have A Fuse?
Like other electrical components in your vehicle, reverse lights are protected by a fuse. If you are familiar with electrical fuses, you’ll know they protect electrical devices or components from overflowing electrical current. Many electrical components are designed to operate at specific currents, and too much electrical current will damage them.
Under normal circumstances, fuses are part of the electrical circuit and contribute to current flow. So, fuses are used to prevent damage by electrical current overload. But when the electrical current becomes too high, the fuse wire melts, breaking the circuitry and cutting power to the electrical component it’s connected to, thereby effectively protecting it.
This is why wires used in fuses have low melting points so that they can easily melt and cut power from the electrical component they are supposed to protect when the current becomes too high.
Where Is The Reverse Light Fuse Located?
Vehicles usually come with two fuse boxes, one under the engine hood and the second near the dashboard. The engine hood fuse box protects the battery, cooling fan, ABS motor, and Engine Control Module (ECM), also called the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The reverse light fuse is located in the fuse box near the dashboard.
The second fuse box near the dashboard protects reverse lights, turn signals, power windows, and interior lights.
How To Repair Reverse Light Fuse Box?
If the reverse light fuse is blown, the reverse lights, alongside other components that the fuse box is designed to protect, will stop working. As a result, the fuse box will need to be located and replaced. You should let your mechanic handle any electrical repair to ensure you aren’t doing more harm than good.
It’s worth mentioning that the location of fuse boxes varies with a vehicle brand. So, you’ll first need to locate a particular fuse to check the diagram and legend on the fuse box. You can also consult the owner’s manual for the fuse box diagram, and you are bound to find a lot of information there.
When replacing your fuse box, your mechanic will select one properly specified for the circuit under consideration. Installing an underrated fuse means the fuse will fail under normal current, and cutting power to the circuit and associated components won’t work until the fuse is replaced.
On the other hand, if a fuse is overrated, it won’t melt or fail when the electric current becomes too high, making associated components prone to damage and constituting a safety hazard.
Cost Of Replacing A Fuse
Car fuses are inexpensive, and the reverse light fuse is no different. Available in different amperage ranges, you’ll have to choose a fuse that meets the specifications of the previous one.
Reverse light fuses can be as cheap as $10. Depending on the model of your car and the quality of the fuse you are buying, you can spend over $20 on a fuse, but this is very cheap compared to the cost of several car components.
While reverse lights are cheap, labor is where you’ll spend some money. Depending on a lot more to do with the fact that I have on the labor rates in your area, you can spend up to five or six times the amount you are buying the fuse. And this is why many people attempt to fix their fuses independently. If you know your way around a fusebox and are handy with tools, you could attempt to replace your reverse light.
