How to remove 80 amp power steering fuse 2010 Mazda 3, battery hooked up wrong

[peimazdasales]

Hi everyone. Did a bonehead mistake and hooked up a battery wrong. It was dark, power was out in house, car was in storage, and I just grabbed the Mazda Tribute battery off the shelf to install so my family could charge phones in the car. The horn blew and a fan came on once I touched both terminals It was only a second but the car would not start afterwards. I ended up replacing the fuse on the positive terminal ($35) and car starts but now the power steering light is on, interior lights didn't work (replaced that fuse), and radio doesn't work.

I need to get the 80amp power steering fuse out but don't know how. It won't just pull out. Mazda is a 2010 3 Sport GX and I am in Canada. I am trying to remove the fuse box or just the top section of it to see if the fuse is held in by a bolt but no luck. Thanks for any replies.

[Reddie1337]

There is a 10mm bolt holding it in under the fuse box. It goes from the passenger side towards the drivers side. Easiest way to do it is to take the air box out.


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[peimazdasales]

Airbox comes out and then you have to take fuse box out too? Mine is a 2010 so just making sure its the same. Going to take air box out now. Thanks

[peimazdasales]

There is a 10mm bolt holding it in under the fuse box. It goes from the passenger side towards the drivers side. Easiest way to do it is to take the air box out.


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I got that bolt out but still no luck. I'm not even sure if the fuse is blown. I appreciate any advice.

[Reddie1337]

There may be a second bolt holding the other side. I don't remember. But you could test it for power on both sides if you still have the fuse box up.


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[peimazdasales]

There is a bolt on the other side but I cannot get to it. Sorry for all the questions. How do I test to see if it has power? It doesn't look like its blown but I'm a rookie wrench. I really appreciate the replies. If its not the fuse, what else would be showing the power steering light after I hooked up the battery wrong? I feel like such an idiot. It would help if Mazda made the positive cable red instead of having both black but still no excuse.

[Reddie1337]

You could use a test like and make sure there is power on both sides of the fuse. If you can see the second bolt as well, you should be able to test it.

[peimazdasales]

You could use a test like and make sure there is power on both sides of the fuse. If you can see the second bolt as well, you should be able to test it.

Did you mean to type test "light" instead of "like"? Thanks.

[Reddie1337]

Did you mean to type test "light" instead of "like"? Thanks.

Yes. Sorry. Must have corrected it to like. I do mean a test light.


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[peimazdasales]

Fuse is good. Received an ECU failure code so might be bad news.

[peimazdasales]

Its looking like it could be the power steering pump. I just removed it and a buddy is going to power it up to see if it works.

[peimazdasales]

Replaced the power steering pump (found used one for $125 plus tax) and all is good. Total cost of hooking up battery wrong was $200 and lots of hours of figuring it out. Dealer would have charged me $2000!!

[Flagrum_3]

Count yourself lucky you didn't destroy numerous other more expensive components.


_3

[peimazdasales]

Count yourself lucky you didn't destroy numerous other more expensive components.


_3

Definitely lucky!