The Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212 series, produced from 2009 to 2016, is known for its luxury and advanced features. Like all vehicles, the electrical system in your Mercedes E350 4Matic relies on fuses to protect its various components. If you’re experiencing issues with your cigarette lighter or power outlets, a blown fuse is often the culprit. This guide will walk you through locating the cigarette lighter fuse in your Mercedes E350 4Matic, ensuring you can quickly resolve common power outlet problems.
Understanding the fuse layout of your Mercedes-Benz E-Class is crucial for basic automotive maintenance and troubleshooting. For the W212 E-Class models, including the E350 4Matic, fuses are strategically placed in different fuse boxes throughout the vehicle. Specifically, for the cigarette lighter and power outlets, you’ll need to check fuses in the luggage compartment and the engine compartment.
To effectively locate the fuse for your Mercedes E350 4Matic cigarette lighter, it’s important to understand the locations of the main fuse boxes. In the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212, you can find fuse panels in three primary areas:
- Luggage Compartment Fuse Box: This fuse box is located in the right side of the luggage compartment, behind a protective cover. It houses fuses for various rear and interior components.
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Instrument Panel Fuse Box: While the original article mentions this, it doesn’t list cigarette lighter fuses here, so we will focus on the other two for this specific issue.
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Engine Compartment Fuse Box: Situated in the engine compartment on the driver’s side, this fuse box is under a cover and contains fuses for engine and front vehicle systems.
Now, let’s pinpoint the exact fuses related to your Mercedes E350 4Matic cigarette lighter and power outlets:
1. Luggage Compartment Fuse Box for Cigarette Lighter:
The luggage compartment fuse box is a key location for cigarette lighter fuses. To access it:
- Open your vehicle’s trunk.
- Locate the cover on the right side panel of the luggage compartment.
- Open the cover to reveal the fuse box.
Once you have access, refer to the fuse diagram, often found inside the cover itself or in your owner’s manual. For the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212, the cigarette lighter and power outlet fuses in the luggage compartment are typically:
- Fuse #71 (15 Amp): Labeled as “Vehicle interior socket, front Front cigarette lighter with ashtray illumination.” This fuse protects the front cigarette lighter and the front interior socket.
- Fuse #72 (15 Amp): Designated for the “Cargo area socket.” This fuse is responsible for the power outlet in the cargo area of your E350 4Matic.
2. Engine Compartment Fuse Box for Glove Compartment Socket:
In addition to the luggage compartment, the engine compartment fuse box also houses a fuse related to a power outlet:
- Open the hood of your Mercedes E350 4Matic.
- Locate the fuse box on the driver’s side of the engine compartment, usually near the windshield.
- Open the cover of the fuse box.
Inside this fuse box, you will find:
- Fuse #9 (15 Amp): This fuse is for the “Glove compartment socket,” powering the power outlet located inside your glove compartment.
Checking and Replacing Fuses:
After locating the potential fuses for your cigarette lighter and power outlets, you should inspect them to see if they are blown.
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Visual Inspection: Carefully remove the fuse using a fuse puller (often found in one of the fuse boxes). Hold the fuse up to the light and check if the thin wire inside is broken or melted. If it is, the fuse is blown and needs replacement.
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Fuse Tester: For a more definitive check, you can use a fuse tester. These inexpensive tools quickly indicate whether a fuse is functional or not.
If you determine that a fuse is blown, replace it with a new fuse of the same amperage rating. Using a fuse with a higher rating can cause damage to the electrical system.
For more detailed information on checking and replacing fuses, you can refer to these helpful resources:
- How to check the fuses?
- How to replace a blown fuse?
Understanding why fuses blow is also essential for maintaining your vehicle’s electrical health. Overloads or short circuits are common reasons for blown fuses. To learn more about this, you can read:
- Why do car fuses blow?
Lastly, if you are unfamiliar with the different types of fuses used in your Mercedes-Benz, this article provides a comprehensive overview:
- Types of automotive fuses
Conclusion:
Locating the cigarette lighter fuse in your Mercedes E350 4Matic is a straightforward process once you know where to look. Remember to check fuses #71 and #72 in the luggage compartment fuse box and fuse #9 in the engine compartment fuse box when troubleshooting issues with your cigarette lighter or power outlets. By following this guide, you can efficiently diagnose and resolve common power outlet problems in your Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212. Always ensure you are using the correct fuse amperage and consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific details related to your model year.
