These instructions apply to the Mazda 3 Mk3 (BM/BN) 2013-2018.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
When something electrical stops working on your Mazda 3 (BM/BN) — a light, a window, the wipers, a 12 V socket — a blown fuse is the first thing to check. The car has two fuse boxes, and swapping a blown fuse is a two-minute job once you know where they are.
Where Are the Fuse Boxes?
- Engine-compartment fuse box: in the engine bay near the battery, under a clip-off lid. This holds the larger fuses and relays for the headlights, brake lights, ABS/stability control, cooling and charging systems.
- Cabin fuse box: behind a trim panel at the end of the dashboard, visible when a door is open — on the left on left-hand-drive cars, and the opposite end on right-hand-drive cars. This holds the fuses for the windows, central locking, sunroof, seat heating, mirrors and accessory sockets.
The exact fuse layout varies by engine, trim and market, so the only reliable map is the legend printed on the inside of each fuse-box lid (or the chart in your owner’s handbook). Always read that for your own car rather than copying another car’s chart.
How to Change a Fuse
- Switch off the ignition and the circuit concerned.
- Open the relevant fuse box and find the fuse using the legend on the lid.
- Pull the fuse straight out with the plastic puller clipped inside the box — never use metal pliers or a screwdriver.
- Check it against the light: a blown fuse has a broken metal strip inside.
- Fit a new fuse of the same amperage (the number printed on top). Using a higher-rated fuse risks melted wiring or a fire.
- Test the circuit. Refit the lid so it seals against water and dirt.
If the New Fuse Blows Again
A fuse that blows immediately means a fault in that circuit — a shorted wire, a failed component or water ingress. Don’t keep fitting fuses; have the circuit diagnosed.
Leave the high-current and safety fuses — airbags (SRS), ABS, glow plugs on the diesel, and the main charging fuses — to a workshop. A fault there needs proper diagnosis rather than a fuse swap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the fuse box on a Mazda 3?
There are two: one in the engine bay by the battery, and one behind a panel at the left-hand end of the dashboard. The lid of each carries the fuse legend for your car.
What fuse controls the 12V socket or cigarette lighter?
On most cars it’s in the cabin fuse box, labelled for the accessory sockets (“OUTLET” or similar). Check the legend on your car’s fuse-box lid for the exact position and rating.
Can I use a higher-amp fuse if it keeps blowing?
No. The amperage is chosen to protect the wiring. Fit the same rating and find out why it blew — a repeatedly blowing fuse points to a short or a failing component. The car may log a related code you can check on autodtcs.com.
Chasing an electrical fault that also lit a warning light? Decode it first on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Mazda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.