MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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In this guide (5 sections)
This guide covers fuse box locations and common fuse assignments for 2008 to 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204 models, including the C180, C200, C250, C300, C350, and C63 AMG.
If you replace any fuses, replace them with the same color fuse. If there is an underlying problem, you could overload the wires or even cause more severe problems to that circuit if you use a higher-ampere fuse. Ensure the new fuse you are installing has the same color and ampere rating as the old one. If you install a new fuse and it blows again shortly afterward, stop and diagnose the circuit rather than fitting a third fuse. When you replace fuses, make sure your ignition is off.
You can get a lot of fuses for cheap on Amazon, like these here Make sure to replace the fuses with the correct color and amperage rating. If the fuse tests good and the problem persists, the fault is in the circuit or the module itself. The next step is to read fault codes with one of the best OBD II scanners for Mercedes-Benz.
A W204 has three fuse panels, and the chart below gives numbers without saying which panel they sit in. Identify the box first.
- Engine compartment. On the left as you face the engine. Engine management, cooling fans, ABS and ESP, the larger MAXI fuses, and the main feeds for everything else.
- Driver side dashboard. Behind a cover at the end of the dash, visible with the door open. Most interior circuits: lighting, cluster, windows, central locking, audio.
- Right side of the boot. Behind the trim panel. Rear SAM circuits, boot lid, amplifier, trailer socket and the rear power outlet.
Where a system in the chart lists several fuse numbers, such as ABS and ESP listing seven, those numbers are spread across more than one panel. That is normal. A system with several fuses has a supply feed, a control feed and often a separate feed for its sensors, so check them all rather than stopping at the first one that looks intact.
Press Ctrl and F, or Command and F on a Mac, and type the system you are chasing. The chart is sorted alphabetically by system, so you can go from the symptom to the fuse number rather than reading every row.
Which Fuse Controls What on a W204
If you need to know the ampere rating or the location of the fuse box, check out the images below.
| A/C system and heater | 12 |
| ABS/ASR/BAS/ESP | 1,6,13,14,16,20,21 |
| Rear compartment A/C | 119 |
| Adaptive Damping System | 12,17 |
| Airbag Systems | 8,15,37,77 |
| Ambient Lighting | 2,3,39,41 |
| Antenna Module | 46 |
| Anti-theft alarm | 46 |
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror | 17 |
| Automatic Transmission | 16,33 |
| Brake Lights | 21 |
| CD Changer | 43 |
| Ceiling Lamps | 17 |
| Central Display | 11 |
| Central Locking | 2,3 |
| Cigar Lighter | 71 |
| COMAND | 26 |
| Height adjustment control unit | 69 |
| Courtesy lights and warning lamps | 2,3,39,41 |
| Diagnostic Socket | 16 |
| Engine Electronics | 6,19,22,23,24,25,27,32,75 |
| Exterior Lamp Switch | 18 |
| Exterior Mirror Function | 2,3 |
| Fanfare Horn | 13,31a,31b |
| Fuel Pump | 4,6,19,23,27,42 |
| Garage Door Opener | 17 |
| Glove Compartment Light | 21 |
| Hazard Warning Flasher | 18 |
| Headlamp Flasher | 13 |
| Headlamp range adjustment | 29,30 |
| Heated rear window | 49 |
| Ignition lock | 19,27 |
| Instrument cluster | 5,28 |
| Interior motion sensor | 46 |
| KEYLESS-GO | 74 |
| Makeup mirror lamp | 17 |
| Mobile phone | 21 |
| Multicontour seats | 60 |
| Multifunction steering wheel | 13 |
| NECK-PRO | 37 |
| Panoramic glass roof | 17 |
| PARKTRONIK system | 12,59 |
| Power window, front | 2,3 |
| Power window, rear | 39,41 |
| PRE-SAFE system | 50,51 |
| Radio systems | 26,84 |
| Rain sensor | 17 |
| Reading lamps | 17 |
| Rear compartment | 86 |
| Rear window sunshade | 12 |
| Rear window washer system | 38 |
| Remote tailgate closing | 61 |
| Satellite Radio | 26,84 |
| Seat adjustment, front | 2,3,44,45,116,126 |
| Seat heating, driver | 12 |
| Seat heating, front passenger | 12 |
| Front power outlet | 9,71,78 |
| Cargo compartment power outlet | 72 |
| Rear power outlet | 76 |
| Sound system | 67 |
| Starter | 6,7,19,27 |
| Steering lock | 19,27 |
| Steering wheel adjustment | 2,116 |
| Switch illumination | 2, 3, 12, 17, 39, 41 |
| TELE AID | 83, 87 |
| Tilting/Sliding Sunroof | 17 |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | 70 |
| Tow-away protection | 46 |
| Trailer brake | 53 |
| Trailer hitch | 53, 54, 56, 57, 58 |
| Turn signal lamps | 13 |
| TV tuner | 85 |
| Windshield washer pump | 13 |
| Windshield wipers, rear | 13 |
| Windshield wipers, front | 10,13 |
Fuse Colour and Amperage
Mercedes colour codes its fuses, so you can read the rating off a fuse without pulling it fully out. There is a catch worth knowing before you use the chart: the standard blade fuses and the larger MAXI fuses reuse the same colours at different ratings. Red is 10 A as a blade fuse and 50 A as a MAXI. Blue is 15 A as a blade and 60 A as a MAXI. Judge by the physical size first, then the colour.
Standard Blade Fuses
| Colour | Rating |
|---|---|
| Black | 1 A |
| Beige or grey | 5 A |
| Brown | 7.5 A |
| Red | 10 A |
| Blue | 15 A |
| Yellow | 20 A |
| Clear or white | 25 A |
| Green | 30 A |
MAXI Fuses, the Larger Cartridge Type
| Colour | Rating |
|---|---|
| Amber or tan | 40 A |
| Red | 50 A |
| Blue | 60 A |
| Amber | 70 A |
| Clear | 80 A |
| Violet | 100 A |
The fuse is sized to protect the wire, not the component. Fit a 30 A where a 15 A belongs and the wiring becomes the fuse, which is how harnesses melt. If a fuse blows twice, the circuit has a fault and a bigger fuse only lets more current reach it.
Where Are the Fuse Boxes in the W204 C-Class
In the C Class, there are fuses in three locations:
Engine compartment fuse box
Driver side dashboard fuse box:Â
Right side of the trunk fuse box:Â
Models Covered
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
What is the Best Scanner for Diagnosing Tripped Fuses and Broken Relays on a Mercedes-Benz?
If the fuse and power supply test good, scan the affected module before replacing parts. The YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro reads Mercedes fault codes and live data and runs active tests where supported to help isolate wiring, relay, and control module faults. It includes full AI Diagnosis, TPMS sensor programming built into the tool, a rear VIN scanning camera, support for 140+ makes, 3,500+ active tests, and 1,000+ special functions. It has no subscription and does not require AutoAuth.
Overall, the YOUCANIC full system diagnostic scanner is invaluable for any Mercedes-Benz owner or technician looking to troubleshoot problems quickly and accurately. With its user-friendly interface and powerful diagnostic capabilities, you can save time, money, and frustration by diagnosing and resolving issues with your Mercedes-Benz quickly and efficiently.
Related Reading
Understanding the SAM Module
The module behind most W204 circuits, and what a failed output looks like when the fuse is fine.
C-Class W203 Fuse Locations
The generation before this one, with a different panel layout.
SL R230 Fuse Chart
Same era of Mercedes electrics in the roadster.
S-Class W221 Fuse Chart
Six panels and prefuses, for the bigger car of the same period.
Before you buy parts, scan every control module, not just the engine. It shows the root fault behind the warning lights and tells you whether the problem is still active. See how to do a full health check.
