hi, miracle1 ~ it sure sounds like a fuse. if they all went out at
once, it is almost definitely a fuse. your owner's manual [which
should have come with the car, even if purchased used] will have a
drawing that shows you where the fuse box is located. look in the
word index at the back for FUSE, and just flip to the page where the
diagram is.
for newer cars, many fuse boxes are located inside the glove
compartments - open the glovebox door, and look up inside the
compartment; it may have its ow little door/cover over it. or look on
the lower inside panel ahead of the front doors - sitting down with
your legs out in front of you, look about at the level of your calf -
look for a little recessed area you can flip open; the cover will
probably come entirely off in your hand. occasionally they are under
the dash, but most newer cars have made them easier to get to.
the owner's manual diagram will show you what fuses run what items in
the car [radio, dashboard lights, antenna, etc.], and will also list
the voltage/amperage of the fuse [i can never remember which they are
measured in], like 5, 10, 15 or 25. the fuses are different colors
also, and are also individually marked in white with the
amperage/voltage.
your fuse box may also have a tiny little "puller" that looks like
teensy pliers or ice tongs, to pull the fuses out of their spots with.
it may even contain some extra fuses.
you can tell if the fuse is bad by pulling it and looking at the part
on the end or inside of it where the flat metal parts come together.
if they are split/not touching, the fuse is blown. putting a new fuse
OF THE PROPER AMPERAGE/VOLTAGE back in should correct the problem.
MAKE SURE you look up the proper amp/volt and verify it. the wrong
one can cause a LOT of problems.
if your owner's manual is NOT in your car, you've got a few options.
one is that you can find a basic guide to your car at most AUTO PARTS
STORES, like Auto Zone, Pep Boys, etc. you could also check the
automotive publications at your local library. or you could drive to
or call your nearest Mitsubishi dealer/showroom. and of course you
could get online. here's a link to a main mitsubishi website, which
is admittedly aimed more at selling new cars, but might get you to
someone who could order you an owner's manual.
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMSA/jsp/index.jsp.
good luck. the more you know about how your car works, the better off
you'll be. otherwise, you may find yourself broken down at the side
of a dark road, in the rain, with nobody around to help - not a good
place to be. consider taking a class at a local vo-tech shop, or see
if any of the auto parts stores offer classes or tutorials. failing
that, educate yourself, look under the hood, get a manual - READ IT,
and learn how to do some simple maintenance tasks yourself, even if
its just checking the oil level and tire pressure when you fill up the
tank. good luck, and take care. |
