Interior Fuse Box Cover

[Mathew]

I was driving home from work this evening when my steering wheel controls for radio and telephone and the horn all stopped working, right after seeing some smoke coming from inside the steering wheel. No fault lights have appeared on the dash board, everything else still works fine.

I've read the owners manual and it mentions a fuse box inside the car, I was going to take a look but I can't get the cover off. I'm sure I could use force but I don't want to break anything. How is the cover suppose to come off without doing something drastic like levering off with a screw driver?

Thanks

Mat

 

[ste-lfc]

You should just be able to pull it off with your fingers,there are 2 lugs on the left of the cover and two push in type clips on the right,pull down from the right side of the cover and it should slip out.....

 

[DanGB]

I use a screwdriver

 

[ross27]

You pull off the cover under the steering wheel, and then reach in and push out the side cover of the dash, exposing the fuse box.

The manual doesnt really show it that well. You could just open the door, and prise off the end cover as said.

 

[Mathew]

Thanks for the help guys. I've got the cover off.

My new problem is that the manual doesn't make any sense at all, it refers to different fuses having numbers that match to a specific part of the car. However, the fuses have numbers like 373 which aren't linked to anything. I was hoping to just find no. 34 - convenience controls, take it out and look at it.

Does anyone know where I can find a diagram of how the fuse box should look?

 

[ross27]

Open the door fully, and get your head right in. The fuses are numbered! 34 will be there.
Its just to the side of the fuse.

 

[DanGB]

any blown fuses?

 

[Bedlam]

My experience is that the manual bears no resemblance to the fuse assignment at all in my vehicle, a 57 TFSI FR.
It was also very difficult to replace the fuse box cover easily as in aligning behind the rubber seal correctly.

The reason I inspected the fuses was that I managed to blow the fuse on the cigarette lighter whilst messing with it,
when I found the fuse which was blown it was not the one which alledgedly protected the cig lighter circuit?

Blowing the fuse also placed me into "limp" mode and replacing the fuse did not bring me out of it, a trip to the dealers
fixed it by alledgedly replacing a sensor somewhere under warranty.

I won't be messing with the electrics again............they seem to of the quality of spanish domestic electricians and builders!

p.s. smoke from the steering wheel does not sound good nor something that a fuse replacement will fix imho

 

[Mathew]

I really can't find the fuses, all I can find is black or grey blocks with 3 digit numbers like 373.

For clarity, I opened the bonnet and found the fuse box to find coloured fuses with numbers on. Sadly, the fuses in the bonnet aren't related to the problem I've got. I'm not convinced the manual is pointing me in the right direction.

I've already booked my car in to the main dealer, but the first appointment is a week today which is why I decided to take a look myself.

 

[Bedlam]

The fusebox is inside the car. on the drivers side, at the end of the dashboard behind and to right of steering wheel, you need to open the drivers door.......it is the "complete" end of dashboard and generally triangular shaped..........quite large, well about 8-9 inches high by 2-4 inches wide

 

[ross27]

Yeh, this is exactly what i found, it is not explained atall in the manual!


The cover you have taken off will help you. Reach in, and push out the end piece cover, at the end of the dash. This bit is covered when the door is shut. The Fusebx is behind there!

 

[Mathew]

Cheers guys, you are great helpers.

I think I've sussed it now - fuse is intact, but higher rated (30A) than required (25A according to the manual), so the wires could have been allowed to overheat without the fuse blowing.

I'll let the main dealer tackle this one

 

[robdf2]

I really can't find the fuses, all I can find is black or grey blocks with 3 digit numbers like 373.

For clarity, I opened the bonnet and found the fuse box to find coloured fuses with numbers on. Sadly, the fuses in the bonnet aren't related to the problem I've got. I'm not convinced the manual is pointing me in the right direction.

I've already booked my car in to the main dealer, but the first appointment is a week today which is why I decided to take a look myself.

Mate if you had smoke coming from inside the steering wheel you should not be driving the car , you dont know what damage has been caused , the air bag might not work , or worse could get triggered at any time , could catch fire.
i am not trying to scare you but if it was me i would be telling SEAT to pull their fingers out and get the car in quicker.
if its still under warranty get the car AA relayed and get a hire car i think you get 48 or 72 hours free , cant remember then get them to give you a courtsey car once that period is over.