The MG ZT arrived in 2001 as a sporting derivative of the Rover 75. Early 2001-2002 cars use a 42-position passenger fuse carrier and a separate 10-position engine compartment box. This guide retains every numbered position, including the unoccupied ones, and distinguishes petrol and diesel circuits. The redesigned electrical panel introduced in early 2003 is different; match your actual fuse box before using these assignments.
Fuse box locations and access
Passenger compartment: With the ignition off, open the passenger-side door and locate the panel beneath and behind the glovebox. Use a coin or flat-bladed screwdriver to release the lower trim fastener. Once the access panel is removed, press the two catches on the fuse-box cover. The early carrier has positions 1-42, including unused slots near the lower part of the diagram.
Engine compartment: Open the bonnet and find the main fuse box on the left side of the engine bay in the direction of travel. Release the retaining catch and raise the cover. Match its numbering with the diagram before testing fuses: petrol V6 and diesel versions do not use identical engine-management circuits. The separate high-current fusible links beneath their own cover are outside the ten positions tabulated below.
Passenger compartment – fuses 1-42
The original 42-position layout is shown immediately above the complete table. Empty positions and the rated-but-unoccupied position 42 have not been omitted.
| Pozycja | Amperaż [A] | Chroniony obwód / funkcja |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Rear electric windows |
| 2 | 30 | Traction control system, where fitted |
| 3 | 5 | Seat position memory and clock |
| 4 | 5 | Air conditioning system and electric window controls |
| 5 | 5 | Body Control Unit (BCU) and windscreen wiper control |
| 6 | 5 | Instrument cluster |
| 7 | 5 | Immobiliser and cruise control |
| 8 | 5 | Body Control Unit (BCU), additional supply |
| 9 | 10 | Windscreen washer pump |
| 10 | 5 | Instrument cluster, secondary circuit |
| 11 | 5 | Audio system, window and mirror controls, and cigarette-lighter circuit |
| 12 | 10 | Accessory socket, electric rear-window blind and parking sensors, where fitted |
| 13 | 10 | Interior lighting |
| 14 | 20 | Central door locking |
| 15 | 15 | Cigarette lighter / 12 V socket |
| 16 | 20 | Additional 12 V accessory socket |
| 17 | 5 | Instrument cluster, immobiliser and automatic temperature control (ATC) |
| 18 | 5 | SRS airbag system, circuit marked with a yellow surround |
| 19 | 30 | Driver’s electrically adjustable seat |
| 20 | 20 | Fuel pump |
| 21 | 30 | Electric seat adjustment |
| 22 | 15 | Factory audio amplifier |
| 23 | 20 | Electric sunroof, where fitted |
| 24 | 30 | Front electric windows |
| 25 | 20 | Heated seats, where fitted |
| 26 | 5 | Anti-theft alarm and immobiliser |
| 27 | 5 | Instrument cluster, additional circuit |
| 28 | 15 | Horn |
| 29 | 15 | Rear window wiper on the Tourer / estate version |
| 30 | 30 | Headlamp washers, where fitted |
| 31 | 15 | Factory alarm siren |
| 32 | 10 | ABS and traction control electronics |
| 33 | 5 | Driver’s seat-belt warning and automatic climate control |
| 34 | 10 | Engine management control supply |
| 35 | 5 | Heated door mirrors and heated washer jets |
| 36 | 5 | Alternator control circuit |
| 37 | – | Unused position in this early fuse panel |
| 38 | – | Unused position in this early fuse panel |
| 39 | – | Unused position in this early fuse panel |
| 40 | 5 | Exterior lighting |
| 41 | 10 | Cruise control and reversing lamps |
| 42 | 5 | Unoccupied in this configuration; handbook lists a nominal 5 A rating |
Engine compartment – fuses 1-10
The listed functions distinguish petrol and diesel applications. High-current fusible links housed separately from this block are not included in its ten numbered positions.
| Pozycja | Amperaż [A] | Chroniony obwód / funkcja |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Diesel: EGR, injection pump and fuel-pressure regulation; petrol: oxygen sensors; all engines: powertrain management |
| 2 | 20 | Petrol: ignition coils; all engines: engine management electronics |
| 3 | 15 | Petrol: camshaft sensor and oxygen sensors |
| 4 | 15 | Automatic transmission, air conditioning and cooling fan; diesel cruise control where fitted |
| 5 | 10 | Petrol engine management, additional circuit |
| 6 | 15 | Front fog lamps |
| 7 | 30 | ABS pump and power supply |
| 8 | 15 | Diesel fuel-fired auxiliary heater, where fitted |
| 9 | 10 | Air conditioning system |
| 10 | 30 | Front windscreen wiper and washer circuits |
Practical checks for common electrical faults
In an early MG ZT, passenger fuse 15 (15 A) protects the cigarette lighter; fuse 16 (20 A) feeds the additional 12 V accessory outlet. Central locking uses fuse 14 (20 A), and the horn is on fuse 28 (15 A). Check fuse 20 (20 A) when investigating an inoperative fuel pump. Petrol engine-bay positions 1-3 cover the engine-management supply, ignition coils and sensors; diesel assignments include the EGR and injection circuits. Cooling-fan and air-conditioning faults can involve engine-bay fuses 4 (15 A) and 9 (10 A), depending on equipment. Never fit a higher-rated fuse to compensate for an electrical fault.
Important fuse box changes from early 2003
The passenger fuse-box construction changed in early 2003 to a modular unit with mini blade fuses. Both the Rover 75 and MG ZT received this electrical revision. On a 2003 MG ZT, confirm the build date and inspect the panel behind the glovebox rather than assuming the 2001-2002 layout remains valid.
Related MG Rover model
For a comparison with the saloon on which it was based, see the Rover 75 (1999-2002) fuse box guide. Early carriers share numbered positions, but powertrain-specific and optional equipment circuits require checking against the vehicle handbook.
Technical reference: Rover Group, Rover Seventy Five Owner’s Handbook, RCL 0306ENG (1999), "Fuses"; original early-type Rover 75 / MG ZT panel compatibility, subject to factory revisions in 2003.