Why Does My Car Radio Fuse keeps Blowing: how to fix?

Last Updated on August 2, 2023 by John Robinson

Fuses are a safety feature of your car’s electrical system and prevent it from being overloaded. If a fuse in your car’s radio blows, it can prevent your radio from working. Some reasons why a fuse in your car stereo might blow are overloading circuits, short circuits, or a damaged car radio system.

In this blog post, we will cover these reasons and how to solve them.

4 Reasons why your car radio fuse keeps blowing

1. Incorrect fuse installed in car radio

If your car stereo fuse keeps blowing, you should check to make sure that the proper fuse was installed in the correct location. Fuses come in different amperage ratings and you should make sure that the fuse installed matches your car’s stereo as precisely as possible.

If you install a fuse that has a higher amperage rating than your car’s stereo, this can cause the fuse to blow as soon as you turn on the music. If you install a fuse that has a lower amperage rating, this can cause your car stereo to stop working completely.

You should never attempt to replace a fuse with one that has a higher amperage rating than the original. Quite often, the fuse box in your car will have spare fuses that are already compatible with your car stereo. If this is the case, you should replace the blown fuse with one of these spares.

2. Short circuit in the car radio system

A short circuit is a situation where your car’s electrical system has come into contact with an exterior power source, such as a short in your car’s wiring.

If this happens, it can cause your car radio fuse to blow. You may also notice that your car radio is shorting out, causing the radio to emit pops and crackles.

If this happens, you should shut off your car’s engine as quickly as possible. The exterior power source will often still be connected to your car stereo, causing the music to continue playing even though the engine is off.

Turning the car’s key off should solve this problem and prevent any further damage from being done to your car stereo.

3. Overloaded circuits in the car radio system

Overloaded circuits can cause your car’s fuse to blow, and result in more serious problems for your stereo.

If your car is having problems with overloaded circuits, you should check your head unit’s manual to see if it has any diagrams of the car stereo wiring system.

If this is the case, you should locate your radio’s wiring diagram. If it appears that your car stereo circuit board has been overloaded, you should consider having a professional inspect your car’s wiring system to determine if any additional issues need to be addressed.

If you’re not sure how to interpret your car’s wiring diagram, take your car stereo to a professional installer.

4. Damaged Car Stereo System

If you’ve determined that the fuse installed in your car stereo is compatible with your stereo, and not blown due to an exterior power source, you may have a damaged car stereo system.

If this is the case, you should get your car’s wiring system checked by a professional installer to see if any additional damage has been done.

You may also need to get your car stereo checked or repaired by a professional installer if you’ve blown multiple fuses in your car radio.

This can be a sign that your car stereo is malfunctioning and may need to be repaired or replaced entirely.

How to check if the car radio fuse is blown or not?

If you’re not sure if your car’s stereo fuse is blown, you can check it using a multimeter.

If a blown fuse in your car has a resistance reading of zero, it has been blown for good and you should replace it with a new fuse.

How do you fix a car radio fuse that keeps blowing?

There’s likely a short in the wiring somewhere, and you’ll need to track it down and fix it. The good news is that it’s probably a relatively easy fix, especially if you’re mechanically inclined.

First, try replacing the fuse with one of a different rating. If the new fuse blows too, then you know that the problem is with the wiring itself and not with the fuse.

Next, start tracing the wiring path from the car radio back to the battery. Make sure to check all connections along the way for any signs of wear or damage. Once you’ve found where the short is located, fix it and test your car radio again.

Conclusion

Don’t try to replace a blown car radio fuse with one that has a higher amperage rating than the original because that can cause your car stereo to short out. Use a spare fuse from the fuse box in your car instead.

If your car stereo has been overloaded or damaged, have it checked by a professional installer.

If you’re not sure if your car’s stereo fuse is blown, you can check it using a multimeter.