Thanks Matt, my panel is so touchy it's ridiculous, today when working on getting the fridge going, I had less than 1 volt at the fridge, going to the 12 volt panel and cleaning the fuse and contacts after checking for voltage, I finally got 12 volts, then later when trying to clean up other fuses, I checked that fuse again and it was back to less than 1 volt, but moving the fuse a little and I got 12 volts..so I will be removing this in the near future and putting a newer fuse panel in its place in order to lessen the probability of intermittent problems.

For those of you that have to OE fuse panel still and don't feel a lot like changing it out, I will go over what to do to maybe make it trouble free.
Remember I work on old boats. Even here on the sweet water, corrosion is an issue. I have some cheap and fast tricks that I know work.

First, Check all the connections. They are as likely to be a problem as the fuse holding clips.
Next, If you can budge the fuse and bring the circuit back to life, there is probably corrosion in the clips or the fuse caps.
To clean the fuse caps, just spin them in a piece of fine Scotch Brite. Actually any sandpaper or emery paper will do, but the wool like stuff is easier to handle and make conform to the caps.
To clean the clips, get a spray can of contact cleaner and a .30cal wire brush. (I suppose .223 or .250 Savage might work, but 30 is what I have.) This is the best way I know to clean those clips. On a short rod you can come in from the end and do a very effective job of cleaning the clip insides.
Before you put a fuse back in, make sure that the rivet that holds the clip to its connection is still solid. These come loose just like the screws. If one is lose and you can do it, running some solder under the clip will make it good forever. If it is loose and you can't solder it, get ready to replace the panel as it will be a bad act forever and anon.
Again, As you put fuses back in, coat each cap with silicon grease, dielectric grease or whatever non-lubricating grease you have. Do not expend any energy putting said grease in the fuse clips, it will get there on its own when the fuse is clipped in.

This trick will be tough to do on the vehicle fuse panel as the ends aren't open.

Matt,

Thanks for posting the above procedure for repairing a 12v fuse panel. I have been having trouble with the #4 fuse on my house 12v panel. It runs my three way fridge, as well as a few lights in the ceiling that the PO spliced in. It has never actually blown a fuse (I have a 25 amp in it) but it has melted the solder inside the fuse a couple of times.

This evening I went out and checked it and, sure enough, the terminal on that fuse (only) is loose. The fuse looks like it is about to melt again, but hasn't gone quite yet. I will clean it up and try to solder the rivet and, hopefully, that will be the end of that problem.

Thanks again.

Matt