1998 Chevrolet Express Break lights keep blowing fuses

FUNCK

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
5.7L
V8
RWD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

All lights work except brake lights. I blow a fuse every time brake pedal is pressed. I replaced break pedal. Cleaned and replaced break lights and cleaned sockets. Disconnected wiring harness for back lights to isolate wire to fuse. Still blows fuse. I ohmed wire to lights from passive side of fuse socket. Open line. Next I checked the pedal with ABS fuse pulled under the hood. Still blew regular brake fuse. Ive already replaced break switch with new. Jumped out white wire with the hot orans 12v and it blew the fuse. Help.

Saturday, April 12th, 2014 AT 4:03 PM

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

A simple trick to finding a short is to replace the blown fuse with a pair of spade terminals, then use small jumper wires to connect them to a 12 volt light bulb. A brake light bulb works well. When the circuit is live and the short is present, the bulb will be full brightness and hot so be sure it's not laying on the carpet or against a plastic door panel. Now you can unplug electrical connectors and move things around to see what makes the short go away. When it does, the bulb will get dim or go out.

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Saturday, April 12th, 2014 AT 4:09 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

The white wire goes to the cruise control as well as the high stop lams in back. If you dsconnect plug to breaks does it still blow fuse( I know it sounds stupid) but if it does then the orange wire is shorting out. Also the white wire goes to the turn signal switch as well as trailer wiring if you have it. That would be the logical place to start at traile wiring then hig mount lamp then t/s switch etc.

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Saturday, April 12th, 2014 AT 4:14 PM