# Blowing fuses **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 8, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/blowing-fuses/5627 "2007-10-08T00:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RalphG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@RalphG](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphG)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/blowing-fuses/5627/1 "2007-10-08T00:08:39Z")
2000 Buick Century blows the fuse on the circuit for the tail lights and dashboard every 2-3 days. Can find no obvious reason. Is it safe to go to a higher amp fuse? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/blowing-fuses/5627/2 "2007-10-08T00:21:13Z")
No. The size of the wires in the circuit probably couldn’t handle to extra load the short is causing, and could be a fire hazard if a higher amp fuse is used. The problem should be traced down and repaired. The most likely culprit will be a chafed wire somewhere grounding out intermittently. The wires will need to be traced . ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/blowing-fuses/5627/3 "2007-10-08T00:47:07Z")
No. It’s NEVER safe to go to a higher amp fuse. The fuse protects the rest of the circuit. You have a short somewhere. Find it and fix it. DO NOT go to a higher amp fuse. You could end up with a fire. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 9:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/blowing-fuses/5627/4 "2007-10-08T09:21:36Z")
Ditto what the others said. To help you with the repair of this I recommend you either purchase a service manual or go to [ALLDATA.com](http://ALLDATA.com) and purchase the service info on line. It will save you time and money in shop repairs. I would look for the problem near the tail lights to start with. You may get lucky and find it quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/blowing-fuses/5627/5 "2007-10-08T10:25:39Z")
Is it safe to go to a higher amp fuse? ``` [b] Never! [/b] The whole reason for having fuses, is to protect you and the car. There is a problem somewhere and not fixing the problem is leaving the hazard. I will add that just changing fuses is not a safe policy either as some situations could damage something or cause a fire even with the original size fuse in there. Find the short, which can be frustrating for intermittent shorts. ```