The Audi A3 and S3 (8L) were produced from 1996 to 2003, and they are popular among drivers for their sleek design, comfortable ride, and powerful engines. These cars were designed with an array of electrical components that keep them running smoothly. One of the most important of these components is the fuse box and relay, which ensures that the electrical system of the car functions correctly. In this article, we will provide an overview of the Audi A3 and S3 (8L) and discuss the role of the fuse box and relay in their electrical systems.
The Audi A3 and S3 (8L) Overview
The Audi A3 and S3 (8L) are compact executive cars that were produced by the German automaker between 1996 and 2003. They are known for their sleek design, smooth ride, and powerful engines. The A3 and S3 (8L) were both designed to be practical and fun to drive, with the S3 being a high-performance variant of the A3.
The A3 and S3 (8L) were offered with a range of petrol and diesel engines, with power outputs ranging from 90 to 224 horsepower. The cars were equipped with a variety of features, including air conditioning, power windows, power steering, and central locking. They also came with advanced safety features such as anti-lock brakes, traction control, and airbags.
Fuse Box and Relay in Audi A3 and S3 (8L)
The fuse box and relay in the Audi A3 and S3 (8L) are located in the engine compartment, behind the battery. The fuse box contains fuses and relays that protect and control the electrical system of the car. The fuses protect the circuits from overloading, while the relays control the flow of electricity to various components of the car.
One of the most important functions of the fuse box and relay in the Audi A3 and S3 (8L) is to protect the car’s electrical system from damage caused by power surges, short circuits, and other electrical faults. If a circuit in the car becomes overloaded or a component malfunctions, the fuse will blow and cut off the power to that circuit, preventing further damage to the car’s electrical system.
(1996–2003) Audi A3 and S3 (8L) fuse box and relay with Diagram
Fitting locations
1 – Relay carrier (3-pin) / fuse carrier
2 – Micro-central electrics
2 – Relay carrier (13-pin)
3 – Fuse holder
4 – Main fuse box/battery
Fuse box driver side dash panel
| № | Amps | Assignment/Designation |
| 1 | 10A | S1 – Fuse in relay plate fuse holder Z20 – Left washer jet heater element 75x Z21 – Right washer jet heater element Z4 – Driver side heated exterior mirror Z5 – Front passenger side heated exterior mirror |
| 2 | 10A | M5 – Front left turn signal bulb M7 – Front right turn signal bulb M18 – Left side mounted turn signal bulb M19 – Right side repeater turn signal bulb |
| 3 | 5A | Illuminations: W6 – Glove compartment light E87 – Operating and display unit for Climatronic air conditioning system |
| 4 | 5A | X-number plate light |
| 5 | 7.5A | E87 – Operating and display unit for Climatronic air conditioning system E45 – Cruise control system switch E94 – Heated driver seat regulator E95 – Heated front passenger seat regulator E159 – Fresh air and air recirculation flap switch E221 – Operating unit in steering wheel1) F269 – Temperature flap position switch G65 – High-pressure sender J293 – Radiator fan control unit J401 – Navigation system with CD drive control unit J402 – Navigation operating electronics control unit J446 – Parking aid control unit J453 – Multifunction steering wheel control unit R – Radio Y7 – Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror |
| 6 | 5A | E150 – Driver-side interior locking switch V94 – Central locking motor with control unit for interior lights switch-off delay and anti-theft alarm system |
| 7 | 10A | F189 – Tiptronic switch G22 – Speedometer sender G266 – Oil level and oil temperature sender J226 – Starter inhibitor and reversing light relay M16 – Left reversing light bulb M17 – Right reversing light bulb |
| 8 | 5A | J526 – Telephone and telematics control unit J412 – Mobile telephone operating electronics control unit R36 – Telephone transmitter and receiver unit |
| 9 | 5A | E132 – Traction control system switch G85 – Steering angle sender J104 – ABS control unit |
| 10 | 15A | Engine management petrol engine: J220 – Motronic control unit2) J271 – Motronic current supply relay2) J363 – Current supply relay for Simos control unit2) |
| 10 | 5A | Engine management diesel engine: J248 – Diesel direct injection system control unit2) |
| 10 | 10A | J285 – Control unit in dash panel insert3) J402 – Navigation operating electronics control unit3) R – Radio3) V94 – Central locking motor with control unit for interior lights switch-off delay and anti-theft alarm system3) |
| 11 | 5A | G266 – Oil level and oil temperature sender J17 – Fuel pump relay J285 – Control unit in dash panel insert K2 – Alternator warning lamp K14 – Handbrake warning lamp K29 – Glow period warning lamp K132 – Electronic power control fault lamp K149 – Engine electronics warning lamp N110 – Selector lever lock solenoid V48 – Left headlight range control motor V49 – Right headlight range control motor |
| 12 | 7.5A | J401 – Navigation system with CD drive control unit J412 – Mobile telephone operating electronics control unit J526 – Telephone and telematics control unit R36 – Telephone transmitter and receiver unit R86 – Aerial amplifier for mobile telephone T16 – 16-pin connector, black, shelf center console (diagnostic connector) |
| 13 | 10A | M9 – Left brake light bulb M10 – Right brake light bulb M25 – High-level brake light bulb |
| 14 | 10A | J452 – Door warning lamps control unit V94 – Central locking motor with control unit for interior lights switch-off delay and anti-theft alarm system W – Front interior light W14 – Front passenger-side illuminated vanity mirror W20 – Driver-side illuminated vanity mirror |
| 15 | 5A | E87 – Operating and display unit for Climatronic air conditioning system G85 – Steering angle sender J217 – Automatic gearbox control unit J285 – Control unit in dash panel insert |
| 16 | 10A | J293-Radiator fan control unit |
| 17 | 7.5A | Z22 – Left lock cylinder heater element Z23 – Right lock cylinder heater element |
| 18 | 10A | L2 – Right headlight twin filament bulb (main beam) K1 – Main beam warning lamp |
| 19 | 10A | L1 – Left headlight twin filament bulb (main beam) |
| 20 | 15A | E102 – Headlight range control regulator J124 – Rear bulb monitoring device J344 – Right gas discharge light control unit L2 – Right headlight twin filament bulb (dipped beam) V48 – Left headlight range control motor V49 – Right headlight range control motor |
| 21 | 15A | J124 – Rear bulb monitoring device J343 – Left gas discharge light control unit L1 – Left headlight twin filament bulb (dipped beam) |
| 22 | 5A | J285 – Control unit in dash panel insert M2 – Right tail light bulb M3 – Right side light bulb |
| 23 | 5A | J285 – Control unit in dash panel insert M1 – Left side light bulb M4 – Left tail light bulb |
| 24 | 20A | J31 – Automatic intermittent wash and wipe relay |
| 25 | 25A | E87 – Operating and display unit for air conditioning system/Climatronic V2 – Fresh air blower |
| 26 | 25A | Z1 -Heated rear window |
| 27 | 15A | J30-Rear window wiper and washer relay V12 -Rear window wiper motor |
| 28 | 15A 204)A | J17-Fuel pump relay |
| 29 | 15A | Engine management petrol engine: J220 – Motronic control unit J271 – Motronic current supply relay J361 – Simos control unit J363 – Current supply relay for Simos control unit N122 – Output stage |
| 29 | 5A | Engine management diesel engine: J248 – Diesel direct injection system control unit 5) |
| 29 | 10A | Engine management diesel engine: J248 – Diesel direct injection system control unit 6) |
| 30 | 20A | J245-Sliding sunroof adjustment control unit |
| 31 | 20A | J217 – Automatic gearbox control unit J539 – Brake servo control unit |
| 31 | 5A | J492-Four-wheel drive control unit |
| 32 | 10A | Engine management petrol engine: N30-Injector, cylinder 1 N31-Injector, cylinder 2 N32-Injector, cylinder 3 N33-Injector, cylinder 4 |
| 32 | 30A | Engine management diesel engine: J248-Diesel direct injection system control unit |
| 33 | 20A | J31 – Automatic intermittent wash and wipe relay |
| 34 | 10A | Engine management petrol engine: N75 – Charge pressure control solenoid valve N79 – Heater element for the crankcase breather N112 – Secondary air inlet valve N156 – Variable intake manifold change-over valve N249 – Turbocharger air recirculation valve N205 – Inlet camshaft control valve 1 |
| 34 | 10A | Engine management diesel engine: G70 – Air mass meter G80 – Needle lift sender N18 – Exhaust gas recirculation valve N75 – Charge pressure control solenoid valve N239 – Variable intake manifold flap change-over valve |
| 35 | 30A | U10 -Trailer socket |
| 36 | 15A | L46 – Rear left fog light bulb L22 – Left fog light bulb L23 – Right fog light bulb |
| 37 | 10A | J285 – Control unit in dash panel insert2) J402 – Navigation operating electronics control unit2) R – Radio2) V94 – Central locking motor with control unit for interior lights switch-off delay and anti-theft alarm system²) |
| 37 | 20A | Engine management petrol engine: J220 – Motronic control unit3) J271 – Motronic current supply relay3) J363 – Current supply relay for Simos control unit3) |
| 37 | 5A | Engine management diesel engine: J248 – Diesel direct injection system control unit3) |
| 38 | 10A | E150 – Driver-side interior locking switch F248 – Release button for rear lid lock cylinder J347 – Ultrasonic sensor control unit V94 – Central locking motor with control unit for interior lights switch-off delay and anti-theft alarm system |
| 39 | 15A | Hazard warning lights system : M5 – Front left turn signal bulb M7 – Front right turn signal bulb M6 – Rear left turn signal bulb M8 – Rear right turn signal bulb M18 – Left side-mounted turn signal bulb M19 – Right side-mounted turn signal bulb K65 – Left turn signal warning lamp K94 – Right turn signal warning lamp |
| 40 | 20A | H2 -Treble tone horn H7 -Bass tone horn |
| 41 | 15A | U1-Cigarette lighter |
| 42 | 15A | J415 – Navigation system tuner for TV J515 – Aerial selection control unit R – Radio R12 – Amplifier R44 – Amplifier with a bass loudspeaker, on left in the luggage compartment R94 – Navigation system interface |
| 43 | 10A | Engine management petrol engine: G70 – Air mass meter N80 – Active charcoal filter system solenoid valve 1 Z19 – Lambda probe heater Z29 – Lambda probe 1 heater after catalytic converter |
| 43 | 10A | Engine management diesel engine: F36 – Clutch pedal switch F47 – Brake pedal switch N79 – Heater element for crankcase breather J359 – Low heat output relay J360 – High heat output relay |
| 44 | 15A | Z6 – Heated cushion for driver seat Z7 – Heated backrest for driver seat |
1) is dropped from July 2002
2) is dropped from November 2001
3) applicable from November 2001
4) for models with S3 equipment only
5) is dropped from the model year 2002
6) applicable from the model year 2002
Relay carrier (3-pin) / fuse carrier
| Relays | ||
| 1 | Secondary air pump relay (J299) (petrol engine) High heat output relay (J360) (diesel engine) | |
| 2 | Motronic current supply relay (J271) (petrol engine) Current supply relay for Simos control unit (J363) (petrol engine) Low heat output relay (J359) (diesel engine) | |
| № | A | Function/component |
| 31) | 20 | Brake vacuum pump fuse S283 (petrol engine) |
| 42) | 40 | Special vehicle fuse 20 S310 (petrol engine) |
1) is dropped from model year 2003
2) is dropped from model year 2002
Micro-central electrics
| Relays | |
| 1 | J4 – Dual tone horn relay |
| 2 | J59 – X-contact relief relay |
| 3 | Vacant |
| 4 | J17 – Fuel pump relay1) J52 – Glow plug relay2) |
| 5 | J31 – Automatic intermittent wash and wipe relay |
| 6 | J31 – Automatic intermittent wash and wipe relay |
| Fuses | |
| A | S44 – Driver seat adjustment thermal fuse 1 S45 – Driver seat adjustment thermal fuse 2 |
| B | S283 – Brake vacuum pump fuse3) |
| C | S37 – Window regulator single fuse |
1) for models with petrol engines only
2) for models with diesel engines only
3) applicable from the model year 2003
Relay carrier (13-pin)
| Relays | |
| 1 | Vacant |
| 2 | J124 – Rear bulb monitoring device |
| 3 | J124 – Rear bulb monitoring device |
| 4 | J552 – Open window regulator relay, front passenger side |
| 5 | J351 – Folding exterior mirror control unit |
| 6 | J351 – Folding exterior mirror control unit |
| 7 | J508 – Brake light suppression relay |
| 8 | J9 – Heated rear window relay |
| 9 | J17 – Fuel pump relay1) |
| 10 | J17 – Fuel pump relay2) |
| 11 | J226 – Starter inhibitor and reversing light relay |
| 12 | J322 – Diesel direct injection system relay |
| 13 | J397 – Radiator fan run-on relay J155 – Coolant pump control unit |
| Fuses | |
| 14 | Vacant |
| 15 | Vacant |
| 16 | Vacant |
| 17 | S43 – Window regulator thermal fuse |
| 18 | S326 – Multifunction steering wheel fuse3) |
1) for models with four-wheel only
2) for models with front-wheel drive only
3) applicable from July 2002
Main fuse box
| № | Amps | Assignment/Designation |
| S131 | 50A | Heater glow plugs (diesel engine) |
| S132 | 50A | Engine management |
| S133 | 30A | Radiator fan |
| S134 | 110A | Interior |
| S138 | 150A | Alternator |
| S162 | 30A | Fuse 1 (30) in fuse holder on battery |
In summary, the Audi A3 and S3 (8L) are compact executive cars that are known for their sleek design, smooth ride, and powerful engines. The fuse box and relay play a crucial role in the electrical system of these cars, protecting the circuits from overloading and controlling the flow of electricity to various components. Proper maintenance of these components is essential to ensure the reliable performance of the Audi A3 and S3 (8L).
