The electrical systems of a Ford F-150 are protected by fuses and circuit breakers. Each fuse protects one or more circuits. Each circuit needs a specific amount of protection; do not replace a fuse with one of higher or lower amperage, as this can cause damage to the electrical system.
Depending on the age of the Ford F1-50, there may be two fuse blocks in the vehicle. All F-150s have a fuse panel located under the dash on the left side of the steering column. Later models have a power distribution panel located in the engine compartment. This panel is mounted to the driver's side front fender.
Both the fuse panel and the power distribution panel use blade type fuses. These fuses are designed to be installed and removed without the need for tools. When removing a fuse, do not twist it from side to side; this may spread the terminals in the fuse panel too far and cause a bad connection.
The cover of each fuse panel identifies which circuit a fuse protects. If an electrical component fails, always check the fuse first. If you replace a fuse and it immediately fails, do not replace the fuse again until you have located the source of the problem. Blown fuses are usually a result of a short circuit caused by deteriorated or broken wires.
