The electrical system in the 2006 PT Cruiser relies on protective layers and sturdy housing to sidestep over-circuit issues.
And its fuse box – where different electrical fuses are stored – plays a critical role in this important mission.
My insightful guide will detail the 2006 PT Cruiser fuse box location, the reasons behind its malfunctioning, and different ways to settle the issues. Keep scrolling.
Where Is The Fuse Box On A 2006 PT Cruiser? The 2006 PT Cruiser Fuse Box Location?
A 2006 Cruiser arrives with two different fuse boxes. One of them, the IPM (Integrated Power Modules or underhood box), is installed within the car’s engine compartment.
The second one (internal box) can be found inside the cabin, at the dashboard’s left side, and hidden behind the panels covered by your car door once this door has been closed.
Another common fuse panel 2006 PT Cruiser fuse box location for the internal fuse boxes is beneath your steering wheel compartment, which could be observed by gazing up from your driving seat to the dashboard.
If you still fail to locate the box here, try out areas around the glove boxes.
Why Does The 2006 PT Cruiser Fuse Box Keep Tripping? Reasons Behind Its Blown Fuses
Have you spotted any blown fuse symptoms? If there is one, the following are the potential culprits:
Short Circuits
Fuses are implemented in the 2006 Cruiser to protect your wiring system and electrical components.
Hence, short circuit issues, instead of melting or overheating the wiring, will blow the fuses instead.
And as the conductors that store the electricity suffer from poor connection, electrical overload is only a matter of time.
To tackle the issue, however, you must dig even further into the problem’s locations. Consider at least one of these three common reasons:
- Frayed wire insulation: Exposed and frayed wires may touch the ground or metal frame, leading to a short. Although these surface contacts are not that frequent – and most of the shorts are only intermittent – it is still more than enough to wreck your fuse box.
- Malfunctioning electrical device: Damage to the locking components or wiper motors forces them to use up more flows than average to speed up the operation. Your circuit will get overloaded and, thus, result in shorts.
- Exposed conductors: Ask yourself whether there has been any car leak. “Yes” to that question means the connection points and wiring harness might get dampened by the car fluid, triggering shorts in the circuit.
Wrong Fuse Replacement
Fuses would keep blowing if you tried to replace broken fuses with a wrongly-placed alternative.
The market has introduced numerous automotive fuse types with different installation requirements.
Hence, I suggest scanning the car’s manuals for a detailed 2006 PT Cruiser fuse diagram and amperage ratings for every fuse/circuit.
If you still feel unsure after that, consult professionals to verify which fuse should be used for which location.
Incorrect Amperage Ratings for The Fuse
Again, a manual should have this information spelled out clearly in charts and diagrams, so check out the manual to confirm whether your fuses have the right amperage ratings for their respective circuits.
The more objects and devices on the circuit, the heavier your amp load will get, pulling excessive power and causing blown fuses.
Hence, do not forget to inspect the lights or devices connected to them, too.
How to Replace A Fuse In Your 2006 PT Cruiser Fuse Box?
While changing fuses on your own is possible, remember that the process can be quite time-consuming and dangerous.
Not to mention, if done wrong, it might shut down the entire electrical system. Those with little expertise or experience should bring in professionals instead.
Step One. Turn all electrical devices and lights off to ensure your new fuse is not overloaded. Keep common safety practices in mind:
- Washing and drying your hands
- Preparing rubber-soled footwear and rubber gloves
- Bringing along safety eyewear
Step Two. Turn the power switch off to disconnect the fuse box power and keep yourself from danger.
Step Three. Spot the faulty, brown fuse. It usually looks cloudy, discolored, or melted. If needed, check the labeling and diagram in the manual.
Step Four. Unscrew that fuse and pull it out. As previously mentioned, its new replacement must have the same type, rating, size, and amperage; replacing old fuses with ones of a higher amp is risky and might even destroy the entire panel wiring.
Step Five. Screw this new fuse onto the old fuse’s panel socket, then restore power to that panel.
If nothing unusual happens, re-activate other electrical compartments and confirm the connection stays stable.
But if blown fuses strike again, it would be best to turn to professional mechanics for further inspection.
What If You Want to Replace The Entire Fuse Box for The 2006 PT Cruiser? How Much It Costs At Auto Shops
Like with blown fuses, you may also swap a fuse box with another, though that takes time and requires more expertise. Here is a quick summary of what to do:
- Step One. Identify the PT Cruiser fuse box location and remove the battery’s negative terminal connections. That way, there would be no dangerous electrical flow while installing the new box.
- Step Two. Find and pop open the fuse panels (usually below the hood). If there is any referenced 2006 PT Cruiser fuse box diagram inside the panel’s lid, note it down for later reference.
- Step Three. Disconnect the fuses’ power supply. But if yours is bottom-routed, jump straight to Step Four to pull out the box’s housing first. Once done, return to Step Three.
- Step Four. Remove the box’s retaining bolts. Put them somewhere accessible and easy to find for late re-installation.
- Step Five. Remove/label each wiring harness connected to your 2006 PT Cruiser fuse box to avoid confusion. Refer to the manual’s or panel’s diagram for this step.
- Step Six. Transfer all the old box fuses to your new fuse block in the designated locations. Next, reconnect the wires, starting with the toughest positions towards easier-access ones. Again, ensure they are placed and attached securely in the same placements as in the old box.
- Step Seven. Use retaining screws to mount your new box. Hand-tighten them.
- Step Eight. Reattach the box’s power supply in secure connections. Return the box’s lid, then connect the negative cable and battery terminals.
- Step Nine. Test the car’s accessories by turning on the air conditioning, timing belt, cigar lighter, etc. Check how the fuses and fuel pump replays function.
However, from what I observe, not many drivers have enough technical skills to remove and reinstall the fuses adeptly.
Your best bet is to have it done at mechanics, whose costs fluctuate from 20$ to 110$ depending on the box’s amperage, quality, and type.
Conclusion
The 2006 PT Cruiser fuse box location is easy to spot.
Replacing broken fuses and fuse boxes, unfortunately, is not that easy, so always keep an eye on them and look out for the slightest unusual signal.
By treating the issues early, you can save both time and money.