2005 Prius LED Flasher Relay

I just finished replacing my flasher relay to avoid the hyperflashing with LEDs. Since I found it somewhat difficult to find information on where it is located, and many people seem to complain about it being very hard to reach, I want to write up the instructions for posterity. I actually find the replacement quite easy to do. Finding instructions was harder than doing the job! You need to heed one advice: don't be afraid of the dash board. Some instructions I saw seem unnecessarily complicated when you try to reach around the dashboard without removing it. Basically, you can't.

Tools you need: a philips screw driver, a 10mm nut or wrench (nut works better), optionally a plastic trim remover kit or plastic spatula, and a flat-head screw driver.

Sorry, I didn't take pictures.

The flasher relay is to the left of the steering wheel, roughly where your left knee would be when driving.

1) pry off the driver side vent panel (the panel on the very left of the dashboard). I had taken it off before, so I was able to easily take it out with my bare hands. You may need to use some tools to pry it out (be careful not to break the narrow parts next to the vent). The panel should come straight out.

2) At the bottom of the opening, there is a philips screw. A second screw is a bit further to the right and lower. Remove both of these.

3) You can now take off the whole bottom panel, everything below the steering wheel is one big panel. You may need to pry it off again. Be careful not to rip any of the cables attached to it.

4) You may want to remove some of the cables so you can move the panel further out of the way. It's not necessary but may make your work easier.

5) To the left under the steering wheel you will see a white fuse box. The flasher relay faces you, but isn't yet accessible because it is covered with a big metal plate. That plate is held in place with three bolts. Remove the nuts and take off the plate.

6) The flasher relay should now be easy to identify; a beige box (your new relay should look very similar, of course).

7) The trickiest part was finding the clip that holds the flasher relay in place. At first glance, it may look like there are two clips on the short end of the plug - that's misleading, though. Below the flasher relay, you will see an indentation in the plastic. That is where the clip is. When you look at the replacement flasher relay, you will see a square hole on the log side of the plug; you can use that as a guide. to where it is.

8) The replacement I got was not a perfect fit. You will note some "ears" on the short edges of the plug; you have to cut them off or bend them out of the way. Compare the old and the new one to see what I mean.

Replace the flasher relay, test it, then put the metal plate back into place. Reconnect any cables you may have disconnected from the dash panel. Put the panel back into place, screw the two Philips screws back in, and finally reattach the vent panel.

That's all there is to it. It can all be done in less than half an hour, plus the usual time you spend having to figure out what to remove next.