1995 Bronco Blown Fuse Problem

[deadwapiti]

I have a 1995 Bronco w/ 186K miles. I got in to start it and couldn't get the auto shifter out of park. Napa gave me some ideas on what could be wrong.....linkage, parking pawl, etc. When I got home to trouble shoot tonight in the dark, I realized that I had no brakes lights when the brakes were applied. I pulled the manual to check for possible fuses that could have blown and found that my 15amp for brake lights and brake release? to shift was blown. It is a 15amp mini on the dash board. I have tried to replace w/ a 15 and also a 20 amp and continue to blow the fuse either immediately upon installation or as soon as I push in the brake pedal. I checked the maxi fuses under the hood and they all look good. I also checked under the dash/steering column to see if there were any bare or loose wires, or just anything out of the usual. Could somebody please help me out in trying to figure out why this fuse continues to blow? Thanks.

[Crasen]

When I try to chase down the cause for a blown fuse I try to disconnect as many things as I can that the circuit powers. If you have a wiring diagram that is where I would start. For example if you disconnect the brake lamps and the fuse does not blow anymore that is probably what is causeing the fuse to blow. At the same time is you disconnect the brake light and the fuse keeps blowing it is obviously not the brake lamps causing the fuse to blow. Keep in mind if the fuse only blows when the brake pedal is applied I would focus on the circuit after the BOO (brake on off) switch. If it blows regardless of the brake being applied or not then I would look at the rest of the circuit instead. Hopefully someone on here has a good wiring diagram that can help you