this may sound dumb but I looked at the fuses in the engine compartment and there were some that had these orange things bridgeing across the top of some of them and not others. what are they and what are they used for ?

 

I just noticed the same thing on my car. I currently have the battery disconnected and on a tender, as I am working on the CC button micro-switches. I started checking the forward left engine bay fuse box, and came across these 'plastic orange bridge' pieces across three or four fuses. Since I already have the battery disconnected, I removed one cover to find it concealed a higher amp fuse, a red 30A one I think. Maybe the fuse is energized all of the time so the plastic guard is a warning to disconnect the battery before pulling the fuse.

 

I believe that they're there as a warning: e.g. the airbag fuses have a similar cover over them.


Mike

 

+1 ... critical safety circuits

 

So does that mean: Do not canabilize this fuse, even for short time.

Or

Something stronger like, do not pull without disconnecting battery?

I remember when I first saw it in wondered to myself if it could somehow deploy the air bag or something.

Thanks

 

I had thought the same thing about the fuse cover, that they indicated a warning of some kind, and/or the importance of not pulling that fuse when energized. I pulled it and tested it along with all of the others in the panel and replaced the cover, my battery is still disconnected, and has been for the last several days since I have been working on the CC micro-switches, Thank God I am almost done, very long and interesting post when I finish. I cannot capture the conductive disc and spring on film due to the material, the flash obscures the switches, no flash and not enough light.

I plan to write up my experience with the CC micro-switches, and have been photo documenting as I go, as I had posed a question and received absolutely no response from any forum members. BTW, THE CC SWITCH BUTTONS CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITHOUT TAKING THE STEERING WHEEL APART, ALL OF THEM! There is a simple way to pop the buttons off without breaking them, and have access to all that lies behind them. I cannot be the only person who has figured this out and repaired the Cruise Control switches without removing the airbag, or any other steering wheel components.