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Citroen C3 Fusebox?

I have a problem with the windscreen washers on my 04, Citroen C3 Pluriel. They have just stopped working.

Now, I'm hoping that it is just the fuse but the problem is, try as I might I just can't get the fusebox lid off it is so tight.

Is there a tried and trusted method to do this?

Richard Cook, Sittingbourne, March 2008

home Fix label Vehicles label_important Cars category Citroendone

I had the same problem, if you have a bottle opener it's a 10 second fix..hope this helps.

Mick J, March 2017

sorry it's a bit late, but citoen's have in the washer lines a ball bearing which is spring loaded. this causes the lines to easily to become blocked up.
if you remove the ball bearing and springs they work well and dont get blocked so easily.

alan, August 2013

I struggled for ages last night in sub-zero temperatures but to no avail. Today I warmed the engine up and the heat made the fuse box cover much easier to remove. Take off the battery covers and use the special tweezers which are stored in the glove box fuse box. Result!! Changed the fuse in about three minutes. Windscreen washers working perfectly.

Sean, March 2013

Thanks for the great answers on here guys. My wife's CE Picasso windscreen washers didn't work and following the guidance on here about how to remove the fuse box cover(!) and then replace the fuse was invaluable.
Twenty minutes later it's working again - job done!

Tim H, Walsall, March 2013

hi, my heated rear windscreen doesn't want to work, i'm also really unsure to the fuses for the glove compartment. I've taken to stopping other drivers' and asking for a look in their cars to see what order there fuses are in, nobody has the same at this point which is worse that I thou7ght. I have a c3 sx 57. can anyone give me a clue please cos I really need help!

ali1067, December 2012

I read the comments on this page and decided to take my car to a garage as it was cold and raining outside.I think i got a good garage as the bill was £1.

ROB, December 2012

i changed the 20 amp fuse for the cigarette lighter and now that works but now when i try to lock it with the keyfob it just flashes loads of times and doesnt lock it did before i changed the fuse now the lighter and the 12 volt satnav port works ive reset the key fob but this hasnt helped any ideas people

allan martin, March 2012

which fuse is for the heater

nj, March 2012

Many thanks - this worked very well for me too. The fuse is in the engine compartment. It wa a 10A fuse #3 in my manual - for a 56 2007 pluriel. So worth checking. The fusebox cover was not nearly as difficult as has been suggested - taking the battery cover off first made it pretty strait forward.

Mich the Quiche, February 2012

remove battery covers first, then you can get your hand in to get fuse cover off

Dave Cooper, February 2012

Glad I found this site as the owners manual places the screen washer fuse in the dashboard fusebox. Having looked on here I looked in the engine compartment and found the 10A fuse blown, once changed all was well again. many thanks

Madtyke, February 2011

There are actually 3 fuseboxes on the C3 Hdi (56 plate) The manual states that there is one in the glovebox which is correct but only contains 1 x 5A fuse. Look underneath the glovebox in the footwell and on the left is a plastic cover, pull it down to reveal the 3rd fusebox containing all the microfuses for the vehicle.

Madtyke, February 2011

I had similar problem with washers not working (frozen up)
the fuse had blown, 10 amp red one next to the yellow one under the bonnet nearest to the wing and difficult to remove!! ... How to open the cover! well... I had to make a tool from a lawn weed extractor. The forked end was hammered over almost upon itself to form a hooked shape, I could then get it under the plastic clasp and hook the lid clip up and over its securing stood. Once lifted pull the cover to the left and remove. I then had to use long narrow nosed pliers to lift out the fuse. The washers are working again... the frost must seize the motor and rupture the fuse... leason DON'T ATTEMPT TO USE WASHERS DURING FROST. Does any body know how to get the battery covers back in place!!! what a nightmare.

Merv Deeley, February 2011

does any! have an idea why my electric mirrors arent workin is this down to a fuse also my drivers window isnt going either they both seemed to stop at once wondering if theyre linked in anyway!

JOnO, January 2011

It was fuse #3 on my 59 plate C3.

Dave M, December 2010

unclip the fuse box on the side nearest the left hand side of the car and then the lid should pull of although there is not a lot of room.

pwonfor, December 2010

http://service.citroen.com/ddb/index.htm

Mircea, December 2010

Thanks for the #14 fuse.

I went into a Citroen garage and I've been trying to replace #3 & #13 as told. Obviously he was wrong, thanks...

Anyway listen to the earlier advice as #14 is right, hooray it works again. (10 10 15 10 40)

Yes, I wounder why it happened??? Answers please (if at all possible)

DanniSA, December 2010

C3 has 2 fuse boxes, one next to the battery box another one inside yr glove compartment. Replacing a fuse is easy but to remove the fuse box cover under the bonnet is the hardest part, French idea. !
Try fuse 14 (check with yr manual) for yr windscreen washer pump b4 buying a pump fm Euro car parts (£10.xx incl p&p) replacing a washer pump is nightmare, remove front right wheel & plastic arches then u will see the pump. So pls try fuse 14 first which highly likely to cause no water especially during cold winter.

Whiskey, December 2010

You have to take the battery cover off, then undo the two clips on the left hand side of the fuse box panel. There is a 3rd clip on the right hand side about halfway along which you also need to unclip. Doesn't take long. I've got a new problem now in which my electric drivers side window button doesn't work, and the electric mirrors have packed in as well. All fuses are fine as well, have no idea what the problem could be

Matthew Jones, July 2010

Wow!, who would have thaught that a car would have 2 fuse boxes. Why?

Stuart M, June 2010

I'm having a similar problem with my C3 HD XTR. I took it to a local garage to play the 'girlie-looking-helpless' card, but they didn't have a clue how to fix it! Tried Halfords too; same story! Both places tried to get the cover off, to no avail! Am I to drive for ever with a spray-bottle of window cleaner by my side?!

Lisa, February 2010

Many thanks folks. I've come to 2 conclusions. French engineers have no consideration for mechanics (I'd only just recovered from the trauma of headlight bulb replacement last year), and Haynes Manuals are not as helpful as they might be ("remove the fuse box cover", hah!). Special thanks to bob (Jan 2009) with advice re screwdrivers and not being afraid to give the rear battery cover a good yank. Confidence is everything in these matters. Also to David Russell (Dec 2009), thanks for info re amperage, but on my 03 C3 "Exclusive" (hah again!), the front row of fuses went 10, 10, 15, 10, 40, of which the THIRD 10A from the left was the washer motor one.

Jim M, February 2010

Found the plasctic cover box easy to come off,Hardest part was prising the fuse out.A Big thanks for the help as i have this problem every time it freezes up here

David Russell, December 2009

same prob here, what a farce just to get the fusebox open!!!! for those confused by the french number ordering, # 14 is the 10a one at the front, 2nd from left of a row of 5, where the 1st 2 appear unnumbered!!

who to taught the french to count???

had to laugh at the glovebox fusebox when I opened it (which was easy) ONE fuse!!!! ffs!

AJ, December 2009

Yeah they're hard to do. Push the two tabs down on the side that you can see, and when you've done that it will lift up like a lid... then just grab it and pull as hard as you can. If you break it well... it's only a french car

Paul Stubbs, March 2009

you need to take the battery cover off in order to get the fusebox cover off. There's small level on the right hand side of the battery cover - push it and the front bit should release. You then need to pull the rear piece towards you and it should come out then you can take the fusebox cover off - you need a flat blade screwdriver to press the small catches that hold the cover on place

bob, January 2009

Thanks Dave

After much pushing and shoving I manouvred the fuse cover off and yes, it was a blown fuse. So changed it and Hey Presto, windscreen washers. For anybody with a similar problem it's mini-fuse #14

The only thing is, I wonder what caused the fuse to blow in the first place??

Richard Cook, Sittingbourne, March 2008

Thanks for that

I guessed this might be the answer.....

I will persevere with it tomorrow and hopefully it is just the fuse (It had better be!) ;-)

Richard Cook, Sittingbourne, March 2008

Hi! I assume you're trying to take the under bonnet fuse box lid off!! There is a small clip on the cover at the battery side of the cover,it is very tight and you will have to use a large screwdriver to prise it off.Unfortunately,as far as I know,this is the only way!

Dave H, March 2008

Anybody???

Richard Cook, Sittingbourne, March 2008

link Click here to see other fixes for Citroen C3.