Q: What are the Guidelines and how to Protect and Maintain Electrical Circuits in a Mercury Cougar using Fuses?
A: The electrical circuits of the vehicle are protected by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers and fusible links. These models have two fuse blocks, one for standard fused located under the instrument panel on the left side of the dashboard and one for high current fuses in the engine compartment, adjacent to the battery. Disconnect the battery negative cable before replacing high current fuses. The manufacturer recommends that high capacity fuses be replaced by a dealer or qualified electrical technician. Miniaturized fuses are employed in the fuse block in the passenger compartment. These compact fuses, with blade terminal design, allow fingertip removal and replacement. If an electrical component fails, always check the fuse first. A blown fuse is easily identified through the clear plastic body. Visually inspect the element for evidence of damage. If a continuity check is called for, the blade terminal tips are exposed in the fuse body. Be sure to replace blown fuses with the correct type. Fuses of different ratings are physically interchangeable, but only fuses of the proper rating should be used. Replacing a fuse with one of a higher or lower value than specified is not recommended. Each electrical circuit needs a specific amount of protection. The amperage value of each fuse is molded into the fuse body. If the replacement fuse immediately fails, don't replace it again until the cause of the problem is isolated and corrected. In most cases, the cause will be a short circuit in the wiring caused by a broken or deteriorated wire.