Running Lights' Fuse keeps blowing

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Dennis Brown, Jul 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM.

  1. Dennis Brown

    Dennis Brown New Member

    Joined:
    Today
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore County
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    I have a Prius Gen 2 Touring (over 360K miles) The fuse for my running lights kept failing. I determined no shorts in the entire running light car harness assembly (rather easy to do.) As such, I then felt it was somehow related to its relay. After reading here, I discovered, the relay for the running lights is located on the interior, driver side fuse box. Turns out it is the third relay on the right and gray in color (see photo). This is not a simple relay (looks like one but has internal IC circuit w/two mirco-relays inside. So, can not be tested for shorting nor will an ohm meter test thru it.) Unfortunately, Toyota can have a wire short that is internal to this assembly fuse box and that will trip the running lights fuse (read here). The only choice then is to replace the entire fuse box assembly (the relay is before the fuse and was not the cause, anyway); however, these assemblies are readily available online (ebay) and are very inexpensive. The assembly is actually rather easy to remove/replace. All connectors are unique and can not be interchangeable. Have room to both work and remove connectors.
    Circuit diagrams generally show this as a simple relay, which it is not. Nor is the location given in many sources (its under panel, driver's foot well. See photo.)
     

    Attached Files: