The Citroen C3 produced from 2009 to 2016 is the second-generation C3, known as the C3 II or A51. Older online catalogues sometimes incorrectly call this model the C3 Mk3. The previous featured image for this article showed a third-generation C3 from 2017, so it was replaced with the correct Citroen C3 II.
The car has a main fuse box in the lower dashboard and another fuse box in the engine compartment next to the battery. Some fuse assignments changed during the production run, so the information below separates the early-production configuration, the 2011-2012 cars and later 2013-2016 vehicles.
Contents
- Fuse box locations
- Passenger compartment fuse box – 2009-2010
- Changes for 2011-2012
- Changes for 2013-2016
- Engine compartment fuse box
- MAXI fuses
- Relays and BSI/BSM modules
- FAQ
Fuse box locations
On left-hand-drive cars, the passenger compartment fuse box is located in the lower part of the dashboard on the left-hand side. Access is gained by releasing and removing the cover.
On right-hand-drive cars, the panel is accessed from the passenger glove-box side.
The engine compartment fuse box is on the left-hand side, close to the battery. MAXI fuses for high-current circuits are located underneath the main panel.
The previous generation is covered separately in the first-generation Citroen C3 fuse guide. The C3 II layout is also similar to the arrangement used in the Citroen DS3, but the tables for the two models should not be used interchangeably.
Passenger compartment fuse box – 2009-2010
The diagram below shows the fuse box itself with clear numbering rather than an entire owner’s manual page.
Additional FH36-FH40 fuses – early production
| Fuse | Rating [A] | Function |
|---|---|---|
| FH36 | 5 | Trailer wiring relay module |
| FH37 | – | Unused |
| FH38 | 20 | Hi-Fi amplifier |
| FH39 | – | Unused in the 2010 C3 owner’s manual |
| FH40 | 30 | Trailer wiring relay module |
This is the first important correction compared with the old article. FH39 was not the heated-seat fuse on every C3 II. In the 2010 owner’s manual the position is unused. Heated seats appear at FH39 in later documentation.
F1-F17 fuses – 2009-2010 configuration
| Fuse | Rating [A] | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15 | Rear window wiper |
| F2 | – | Unused |
| F3 | 5 | Airbag and seat-belt pretensioner control unit |
| F4 | 10 | Air conditioning, clutch switch, electrochromic mirror, diesel particulate-filter additive pump, diagnostic connector, diesel airflow meter |
| F5 | 30 | Power-window switch panel, passenger-window control, front window regulator |
| F6 | 30 | Rear power windows and driver’s window motor |
| F7 | 5 | Interior lighting and side reading lights |
| F8 | 20 | Multifunction display, radio, navigation, instrument cluster with clock, alarm control unit and siren |
| F9 | 30 | Aftermarket radio, 12 V socket, portable navigation-holder power supply |
| F10 | 15 | Steering-wheel controls |
| F11 | 15 | Ignition switch, diagnostic connector, automatic-transmission control unit |
| F12 | 15 | Rain and light sensor, trailer wiring, driving-school vehicle module |
| F13 | 5 | Main brake-light switch, engine relay module |
| F14 | 15 | Parking sensors, airbag control unit, instrument cluster, automatic climate control, USB Box, Hi-Fi amplifier |
| F15 | 30 | Central locking |
| F16 | – | Unused |
| F17 | 40 | Heated rear window and exterior mirrors |
| SH | – | PARC / transport-mode shunt |
Passenger compartment fuse-box changes – 2011-2012
The physical panel layout remains very similar, but several optional-equipment positions change. The diagram below shows the later fuse-box variant.
| Position | 2009-2010 | 2011-2012 |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15 A – rear wiper | 15 A – rear wiper |
| FH39 | Unused | 20 A – heated front seats, except on some market versions |
| FH40 | 30 A – trailer module | 40 A – trailer module |
| MF7 | The 2010 manual lists dashboard fuse-box supply but gives no rating | 80 A – dashboard fuse-box supply |
The other basic F2-F17 fuses keep the same ratings in the 2012 owner’s manual. In the later description, F7 also includes the glove-box light.
Take particular care with FH40 and the production year. Do not replace a 30 A fuse with a 40 A fuse simply because a newer C3 uses the higher rating.
Changes for 2013-2016
On later cars, the main changes concern some BSI functions. The external appearance of the fuse box remains similar, so the diagram alone is not enough to identify every difference.
| Fuse | Rating [A] | Change for 2013-2016 |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | – | Unused – on the older version F1 15 A supplied the rear wiper |
| F2 | – | Unused |
| F3 | 5 | Airbags and seat-belt pretensioners |
| F4 | 10 | Air conditioning, clutch switch, electrochromic mirror, particulate-filter system, diagnostics, airflow meter – depending on engine |
| F5 | 30 | Front power-window controls |
| F6 | 30 | Rear power windows and driver’s window |
| F7 | 5 | Interior, glove-box and reading lights |
| F8 | 20 | Power supply for some multimedia systems, display, alarm and – on later configurations – part of the 12 V / accessory-socket circuit |
| F9 | 30 | Power supply for some audio systems and 12 V accessories; configuration depends on the BSI and vehicle equipment |
| F10 | 15 | Steering-wheel controls |
| F11 | 15 | Ignition switch, diagnostics, transmission control unit |
| F12 | 15 | Rain/light sensor, trailer module, driving-school vehicle equipment |
| F13 | 5 | Brake-light switch, engine module; on some later versions also the electronic transmission selector |
| F14 | 15 | Parking sensors, airbags, instrument cluster, automatic climate control, USB, Hi-Fi; on later versions also the reversing camera |
| F15 | 30 | Central locking |
| F16 | – | Unused |
| F17 | 40 | Heated rear window and mirrors |
| FH36 | 5 | Trailer wiring module |
| FH37 | – | Unused |
| FH38 | 20 | Hi-Fi amplifier |
| FH39 | 20 | Heated front seats – if equipped |
| FH40 | 40 | Trailer wiring module |
In later owner’s manuals, F1 is no longer described as the rear-wiper fuse. This is a genuine difference from the 2010 and 2012 documentation, not a numbering error.
If the 12 V outlet is not working on a 2013-2016 car, check the F8/F9 configuration for that specific BSI. On earlier vehicles, F9 30 A is the main fuse for the socket.
Engine compartment fuse box
The diagram below shows the BSM module itself with positions F1-F21. The layout is shared across this generation, but the function of some fuses depends on the installed engine.
| Fuse | Rating [A] | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | 20 | Engine control unit supply, radiator-fan relay, main engine-control relay, diesel injection pump |
| F2 | 15 | Horn |
| F3 | 10 | Front and rear washer pump |
| F4 | 20 | Daytime running lights / LED DRL – depending on version |
| F5 | 15 | Diesel fuel heating, FAP additive pump, airflow meter, EGR; fuel pump on 1.1i and 1.4i; breather heating and VTi solenoids – depending on engine |
| F6 | 10 | ABS/ESP control unit, additional brake-light switch |
| F7 | 10 | Electric power steering, automatic transmission |
| F8 | 25 | Starter control |
| F9 | 10 | Diesel switching and protection module |
| F10 | 30 | Fuel and breather heating, VTi fuel pump, injectors, ignition coils, controlled thermostat and evaporative-emissions solenoid – depending on engine |
| F11 | 40 | Heater / air-conditioning blower |
| F12 | 30 | Windshield wipers – low and high speed |
| F13 | 40 | BSI module supply with ignition on |
| F14 | 30 | Valvetronic system supply – VTi engines |
| F15 | 10 | Right high-beam headlight |
| F16 | 10 | Left high-beam headlight |
| F17 | 15 | Left low-beam headlight |
| F18 | 15 | Right low-beam headlight |
| F19 | 15 | Oxygen sensors and solenoids – VTi; solenoids and EGR – diesel |
| F20 | 10 | Pumps and controlled thermostat – VTi; water-in-fuel sensor – diesel |
| F21 | 5 | Radiator-fan assembly control supply, ABS/ESP |
Having separate fuses F15-F18 for the headlights is useful when diagnosing a single lamp: each high- and low-beam headlight has its own fuse.
A similar fuse-box architecture is used in the Citroen C3 Picasso, although some assignments depend on model and engine version.
MAXI fuses
| Fuse | Rating [A] | Function |
|---|---|---|
| MF1 | 60 | Radiator-fan assembly |
| MF2 | 30 | ABS/ESP pump |
| MF3 | 30 | ABS/ESP solenoid valves |
| MF4 | 60 | BSI module power supply |
| MF5 | 60 | BSI module power supply |
| MF6 | – | Unused |
| MF7 | 80* | Dashboard fuse-box power supply |
| MF8 | – | Unused |
* The 2010 C3 owner’s manual identifies MF7 as the dashboard fuse-box supply but leaves the amperage field blank. The 2012 manual lists 80 A. Do not automatically apply the 80 A rating to an earlier car without confirming the markings on its electrical system.
MAXI fuses protect the main high-current circuits. The manufacturer intends them to be serviced by a dealer or qualified workshop.
Relays and BSI/BSM modules
The C3 II owner’s manual does not provide one complete universal numbering scheme for all relays. Some relay functions are integrated into the passenger-compartment BSI module and the under-hood BSM fuse box, and their configuration varies with engine and equipment.
For this reason, one R1-R8 relay list should not be applied to every 2009-2016 C3 II. If a failed circuit is not covered by the fuse tables above, use service information that matches the exact BSI/BSM variant.
FAQ – Citroen C3 II 2009-2016
Which fuse is for the 12 V socket?
On cars with the earlier configuration, the main 12 V socket fuse is F9 30 A in the passenger-compartment fuse box. On later 2013-2016 cars, part of the accessory supply uses an F8/F9 configuration, so check both circuits according to the specific BSI.
Which fuse is for the rear wiper?
On early-production cars and in the 2012 owner’s manual, the rear wiper is assigned to F1 15 A. In documentation from 2013 onward, F1 is marked unused, so the earlier description should not be applied to a later car.
Which fuse is for the starter?
Starter control is protected by F8 25 A in the engine compartment fuse box.
Which fuse is for the horn?
The horn is protected by F2 15 A in the under-hood fuse box.
Which fuses are for the low-beam headlights?
The left low-beam headlight uses F17 15 A, and the right one uses F18 15 A in the engine compartment fuse box.
Which fuses are for the high-beam headlights?
The right high-beam headlight is protected by F15 10 A, and the left one by F16 10 A.
Which fuse is for the heated rear window and mirrors?
The heated rear window and mirrors are protected by F17 40 A in the passenger-compartment fuse box.
Which fuse is for the heated seats?
On cars equipped with heated seats and the later configuration, the fuse is FH39 20 A. In the 2010 owner’s manual, FH39 is still marked unused.
Why is FH40 rated at either 30 A or 40 A?
The early-production configuration lists FH40 30 A. The 2012 and later documentation lists FH40 40 A. Both protect the trailer wiring module, but the ratings are not interchangeable across every model year.
Is this model the C3 Mk3?
No. The C3 produced from 2009 to 2016 is the Citroen C3 II, generation A51. The third-generation C3 did not appear until 2016. The old URL is retained to avoid creating an unnecessary redirect and losing the history of the address.