2000 Other Jeep Models FUSE BLOWS EVERYTIME I HIT BRAKES

2000 JEEP
112,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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JTHEOD
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Installed new tail lights on my truck. Someone told me the drivers side brake lite was out. I took the light out, and put it back in and it worked. Right after it worked the fuse blew, and all brake lights were inoperable. I put a 20amp in and as soon as I hit the brakes it popped again. Tried a 30 amp, just to see, and it didn't pop, but the light was very dim when I used the brake. I took the 30 out and put the original back in 15amp, and it popped again. The wires are also getting pretty hot where they enter the socket. Any suggestions?? Going to remove all bulbs, and see if I can narrow it down today, I pretty much know it is the drivers side though, because that is when the fuse started to blow.
Mar 15, 2010 at 7:40 AM
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RASMATAZ
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Bad idea using a higher amperage fuse-you have a direct short to ground unplug the brake switch and do a continuity test on the brake wire to ground
Mar 15, 2010 at 7:54 AM
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JTHEOD
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Im pretty mechanically inclined, but not so much on electrical. I was trying the higher fuses just to see if they would blow. Definitely was not going to keep them in there and burn my wires out. Don't know how to do a continuity test. Can you semi walk me thru??
Mar 15, 2010 at 8:01 AM
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JTHEOD
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OK...got the fuse to stop blowing. Put in a new bulb. The contacts on the old one had melted. and was causing the fuse to blow. But now the brake light still doesn't work on that side, and my regular driving lights don't work on that side. The reverse and turn signals do. Last night before I started blowing fuses, the regular light was working. Any suggestions??
Mar 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM