2000 Mercury Cougar Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 171

Roadside emergencies FUSES AND RELAYS If electrical components in the vehicle are not working, a fuse may have blown. Blown fuses are identified by a broken wire. Check the appropriate fuses before replacing any electrical components. Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified amperage rating. Using a fuse with higher amperage rating can cause severe wire damage and could start a fire. Even after a fuse is replaced, it will continue to blow if the cause of the overload is not identified and corrected. If the fuse continues to blow, have the vehicle's electrical system checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician. The passenger compartment fuse panel is located on the driver's side under the instrument panel. The power distribution box is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment. They contain the main fuses and the main relays. The circuits protected are identified by numbers on the passenger compartment fuse panel and inside the cover on the power distribution box. Depending on country, the labels may not represent the fuses and relays in your vehicle. Refer to Power distribution box and Passenger compartment fuse panel in this chapter for information on fuse and relay assignment. 171