Find the Fuse Boxes

If an electrical item on your Hilux has stopped — a socket, lights, the radio — a blown fuse is the first thing to check. The Hilux has two main fuse boxes: one in the engine bay and one inside the cabin, with a couple of extra holders depending on spec.

Where the fuse boxes are

• Engine compartment: a box on the side of the engine bay — push the tab in, pull the lock release and lift the lid off. This holds the higher-current fuses and relays.
• Under the dash: on right-hand-drive Hilux, remove the cover (if fitted) and then the lid to reach the cabin fuse panel.
• Behind the glovebox: drop the glovebox (see our cabin-filter guide) and remove the lid for a further set of fuses.
• Behind the cowl side panel: remove the door scuff plate and the cowl side trim to reach fuses tucked by the kick panel.

Checking and replacing a fuse

1. Switch the ignition off before touching any fuse.
2. Use the legend printed on the fuse-box lid to find the fuse for the dead circuit — assignments vary by engine, transmission and trim, so always read your own lid.
3. Pull the suspect fuse with the plastic puller clipped inside the box (never metal pliers) and hold it to the light — a broken metal strip means it has blown.
4. Fit a replacement of the same amperage only. A higher rating can overheat the wiring.
5. If the new fuse blows again, stop and have the circuit checked — something is drawing too much current.

Always keep a few spare fuses of common ratings in the glovebox. Fuses for safety-critical systems (airbags, ABS) should be left to a workshop.

If a circuit keeps blowing fuses and triggers a warning light, scan for the code on autodtcs.com.