The electrical circuits of the vehicle are protected by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers, and
Relays, with fuse and relay boxes located in the engine compartment and underneath the left end of the dashboard. The engine compartment fuse and relay box is positioned in the right rear corner for models from 1999 to 2003 and in the left rear corner for 2004 and later models, while the under-dash fuse and relay box is found below the left end of the dashboard, behind the kick panel. Accessing relays on this panel requires removing the left kick panel. A variety of mini and maxi-style fuses, which utilize a blade terminal design, protect various circuits and can be removed and installed without special tools. Each fuse safeguards a specific circuit or circuits, with identification provided on the fuse panel cover. If the cover is hard to read or missing, a complete guide to all fuses and relays is available in the owner's manual. When an electrical component fails, checking the fuse first is essential, and the best method is using a test light to check for power at the exposed terminal tips of each fuse. If power is present on one side but not the other, the fuse is blown, which can also be confirmed by a visual inspection. It is important to replace blown fuses with the correct type, as fuses of different ratings are physically interchangeable, but only the correct rating should be used to ensure proper protection for each electrical circuit. The amperage value of each fuse is molded into its body. If a replacement fuse fails immediately, it should not be replaced again until the underlying issue, often a short circuit caused by a broken or deteriorated wire, is identified and resolved.