Hazard Lights Stuck On

Hi everyone,
This is a long shot, since I've read about this issue in non-V Prius models and the fix seems elusive, but I figured I'd give it a shot before I bring it in. I ordered a relay, hoping that's was the issue, but according to this thread the V does not have one.

Starting yesterday, the hazard lights on my Prius V are stuck on. They stay on if I turn the car off, and it does not respond if I push the hazard toggle button on the dash or try to use the turn signal. It just keeps flashing. It's a steady pace no matter how fast I drive the car.

Here's what I've tried so far:
Pulled Fuses
1. Pulling the flasher fuse causes the lights to stop flashing, but the relay keeps clicking along inside the car.
2. Pulled various other fuses to see if I could trace a short between two wires (there were some threads mentioning the ABS system). No other fuse caused the flashing to stop.

Hooked up to TechStream
1. Confirmed the software shows the hazard status as "on"
2. Triggering a test on the turn signal caused the turn signal to turn on for a brief moment and the flasher to stop. (I didn't see any tests for the hazards themselves)

Replaced the Battery
Battery was reading 11.9v, and I found an obscure comment about a European safety feature that causes the hazards to flash when the battery 12v battery is about to die. Replaced with a new battery, which is reading much better, no different.

Pulled the harness for the Hazard Button
I don't know why I didn't do this first, but didn't realize how easy it was to pop that panel off. Removing the harness for the button and jiggling the wires made no difference. Keeps flashing away.

If anyone else has run into this and have any advice (even if it's just to point a mechanic in the right direction), I will be forever grateful. Thanks!

- Jesse

 

Update on this, just in case someone runs into the same problem and the solution is the same. I took it in to the dealership this morning, and after popping off the dash they found a short in a wire coming off of the hazard switch. I was happy to pay the $300 to avoid having to pull the dash myself, looks brutal.

 

Hi Tim,
I'm not the original owner, so I think you're right. When I pulled off the panel that holds the hazard switch (and ignition switch, etc) I noticed that the tape on it looked like it had been handled before. So maybe had been removed at some point and not secured correctly so it has been rubbing against something?

Now I've noticed I no longer have a green light on the power switch while driving (but it does still light up when in accessory mode?), but that I can live with.