Chevrolet Onix Fuse Box: Location & Guide
TL;DR
The Onix uses one engine-bay fuse/relay box near the battery and one interior fuse box on the dash or footwell area; always check the diagram printed on each box lid or the owner's manual for exact fuse positions and amperages.
Where the fuse boxes are located
Like most Chevrolet/GM small cars built on the same LatAm platform, the Onix hatchback has two separate fuse and relay boxes. The engine bay box sits in a corner of the engine compartment, next to or on top of the battery, and houses the higher-current fuses and relays that protect things like the cooling fan, headlights, ABS, and the alternator/charging circuit. The interior box is mounted inside the cabin, typically behind a small removable panel to the left of the steering wheel (below the dash, near where your knee sits) or tucked behind the trim next to the driver's door. This interior box handles circuits such as the radio, power windows, interior lighting, wipers, and the accessory socket.
How to open each box
The engine bay cover usually lifts off or unclips by pressing in on one or two plastic tabs along its edge; no tools are typically needed, though a flat trim tool can help if the clips are stiff. The interior panel is normally held by clips or a single screw and pulls or pries away gently by hand. Always work with the ignition off, and reconnect the cover fully afterward so it seals against water and road dust.
Finding the correct fuse legend
Do not rely on generic online fuse charts for exact positions, because Chevrolet has issued more than one internal fuse layout across Onix production years, engines (1.0, 1.4, turbo), and markets. The most reliable legend is printed directly on the underside of each fuse box lid as a small diagram with numbers matching each fuse slot. The owner's manual's electrical system chapter repeats this same diagram with a written description of what each circuit protects, and is the second reference to check if the lid diagram has faded or is missing.
Fuses that commonly cause complaints
- Cigarette lighter / 12V accessory socket: a blown fuse here means the socket and any phone charger or dash cam plugged into it stop working, while everything else on the car runs normally.
- Radio / infotainment: a blown fuse kills the touchscreen, sound system, and sometimes the reverse camera feed if it shares that circuit, without affecting engine operation.
- Interior lighting: dome light, map lights, or footwell lights going dark together, while dash and headlights stay fine, points to this fuse.
- Blower motor: if the climate control fan produces no airflow at any speed setting but the AC compressor still seems to engage, the blower motor fuse (or its relay) is a common suspect.
- Fuel pump relay/fuse: a car that cranks but will not start, with no fuel pump hum audible from the rear when the key is turned to on, often traces back to this circuit rather than the fuse for ignition or the starter.
Checking and replacing a fuse safely
With the ignition off, pull the suspect fuse using the small plastic puller clipped inside the fuse box lid, and hold it up to the light: a broken or blackened metal strip inside the plastic body confirms it is blown. A test light or multimeter across the fuse terminals with the ignition on gives a more certain answer when the break is not visually obvious. Replace it only with a fuse of the identical amperage rating (matching the number and color printed on the fuse), never a higher rating, since that removes the protection the circuit was designed with and risks wiring damage. If a fresh fuse of the correct rating blows again within seconds or minutes, that is a strong sign of a short circuit or a failing component downstream rather than a weak fuse, and the car should not keep being fed replacement fuses. In that situation, a diagnostic scan for stored fault codes related to the affected circuit is usually the fastest way to narrow down the underlying cause before more parts or fuses are spent chasing the symptom.
| Generation / years | Fuse box | Location | How to access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st gen (2012-2019, Brazil/LatAm) | Engine bay box | Engine compartment, next to the battery | Unclip or lift the plastic cover, no tools usually required |
| 1st gen (2012-2019, Brazil/LatAm) | Interior box | Left of steering column, behind a small dash/kick panel | Pull or gently pry off the trim panel by hand |
| 2nd gen (2019-present, global Onix/Onix Plus, Brazil/LatAm) | Engine bay box | Engine compartment, near the battery | Unclip the cover along its edge tabs |
| 2nd gen (2019-present, global Onix/Onix Plus, Brazil/LatAm) | Interior box | Driver-side dash area near the door or under the steering column | Remove the small trim panel, usually clipped, sometimes one screw |
Summary
| Engine bay fuse box location | Engine compartment, next to the battery |
|---|---|
| Interior fuse box location | Left of steering column / near driver's door, behind small trim panel |
| Fuse legend source | Diagram printed on fuse box lid + owner's manual electrical chapter |
| Common blown-fuse complaints | 12V/cigarette lighter socket, radio/infotainment, interior lights, blower motor, fuel pump relay |
| How to check a fuse | Visual inspection of the element, or test light/multimeter across terminals with ignition on |
| Replacement rule | Match the exact amp rating printed on the fuse, never go higher |
| Repeated blown fuse | Signals a short or failing component; scan for stored fault codes rather than keep replacing fuses |
Full diagnostics
For the complete step-by-step diagnostic and repair guide, see Chevrolet Onix: Common Problems, Fault Codes & Repairs.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the fuse box on a Chevrolet Onix?
The Chevrolet Onix hatchback has two fuse boxes: one in the engine compartment next to the battery (for engine and high-current circuits like the cooling fan and headlights), and one inside the cabin, usually behind a small panel left of the steering column or near the driver's door (for the radio, interior lights, wipers, and accessory socket). This layout applies to both the first generation (2012-2019) and the second generation (2019-present) Onix sold in Brazil and other Latin American markets.
How do I know which fuse is which on my Onix?
Do not rely on a generic chart found online, since Chevrolet used more than one fuse layout across Onix engines and years. The reliable source is the small diagram printed on the underside of the fuse box lid itself, which lists each fuse position and what it protects; the owner's manual's electrical chapter repeats the same diagram with written descriptions.
Why does my Onix's cigarette lighter or 12V socket not work but everything else is fine?
This is a classic sign that only the accessory socket's dedicated fuse has blown, since that circuit is fused separately from the rest of the car's electronics on the Onix. Check the interior fuse box, find the position labeled for the accessory outlet on the lid diagram, and inspect it for a broken or blackened element before replacing it with a fuse of the same amp rating.
My Onix keeps blowing the same fuse after I replace it, what does that mean?
A fuse that blows again quickly after being replaced with the correct amperage almost always indicates a short circuit or a failing component on that circuit, not a bad fuse. Continuing to swap in new fuses without finding the cause risks wiring damage or fire; a diagnostic scan of the vehicle for stored fault codes tied to that circuit is the recommended next step to pinpoint the fault before further parts are replaced.