# A new fuse installed, fixes the problem, but now the car wont start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-new-fuse-installed-fixes-the-problem-but-now-the-car-wont-start/97408>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford, expedition\
**Created:** [December 18, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-new-fuse-installed-fixes-the-problem-but-now-the-car-wont-start/97408 "2016-12-18T19:01:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joekane3983](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@joekane3983](https://community.cartalk.com/u/joekane3983)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-new-fuse-installed-fixes-the-problem-but-now-the-car-wont-start/97408/1 "2016-12-18T19:01:26Z")

</div>

Hello, I have a 2004 Ford Expedition that has been pretty good to me. Minor fixes mostly. Here is my question. The dome lights, brake lights, gauges, and blinkers stopped working suddenly. I replaced the fuse associated with the problem, and all the above now work, but the car wont start. When I remove the replaced fuse the car starts right up. Any idea of what might cause this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Takem01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@Takem01](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Takem01)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-new-fuse-installed-fixes-the-problem-but-now-the-car-wont-start/97408/2 "2016-12-18T19:49:14Z")

</div>

I’m not certain, but you may have reset the vehicle management computer by replacing the fuse. On my Expy, you’d need to reset the VMC by turning on/off the ignition key a number of times (on mine, until the power door locks cycle). Hope this helps.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joekane3983](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@joekane3983](https://community.cartalk.com/u/joekane3983)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-new-fuse-installed-fixes-the-problem-but-now-the-car-wont-start/97408/3 "2016-12-18T20:24:38Z")

</div>

Thank you! Unfortunately that did not solve the issue. I am welcome to any other suggestions. I appreciate your time.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-new-fuse-installed-fixes-the-problem-but-now-the-car-wont-start/97408/4 "2016-12-19T00:58:15Z")

</div>

I am amazed that all those functions were on one fuse. Were there any problems leading up to the fuse failing? Were there any surprises when the burned fuse was replaced?

I suspect the short circuit that blew your fuse somehow involved burning out a ground and now feedback in one subset of the circuit is knocking out the ignition and/or fuel injection. If one of the pros who drop in here has access to their wiring schematics tonight hopefully they will post it.