Brake lights problem

[Ikera]

I just found out yesterday that my Brake lights don't light up. When I turn on headlights the tail lights all work fine and ok. I pulled out the fuse for the brake light and it was burned, I replaced it with an other same 15amp fuse, pushed in the brake pedal and lights came on for 2 seconds and then it fuse burned out again!. I even unplugged the third brake light, and put in a 20amp fuse (just for the test). And same thing happened it just burn out the fuse. I've tried pushing the brake pedal with the headlight on and off. When the head lights are on and I push in the brake pedal the tail lights instead on going brighter they go off! What the hell, I have searched and have not found any one who had the same problem, but does any one know what could it be? Help please

[Ikera]

Does any one have any ideas how to troubleshot this problem?

[bruinbear714]

If the fuse keeps burning out, there's a short somewhere. You need to grab a multimeter and start probing.

[Ikera]

Yea I got 2 packs of fuses and a multimeter from a dollar store today. Going to start probing tomorrow. Does any one have any pointers where it could be. It only blows after I push in the brake pedal so it's after the switch, but the tails lights work fine when I turn on head lights. So it's does it mean that it's somewhere in between or do the brakes have their own wires to the stop lights apart from the headlights to the tail lights? And does it mean anything the fact that tail lights go off when I push in the brake pedal?

[Wc240]

step 1:buy a DECENT DMM(digital multi meter) not one from the dollar store Step 2: download/look at the fsm and look at the wiring diagrams. normally id just tell you, but its late and you should have printed out the wiring diagrams before you bought the meter. pull the panel in the back and first do a visual inspection of the wiring. could be something as simple as worn thru wires/bad connector, etc.good luck

[Ikera]

I fixed it! Well more or less, in the trunk on the passenger side above a tail light there is a a lot wires. If you pick the set of wires that is going to the set of taillight on the passenger side there is a place where 4 wires are connected together 1 power, 1 going to the center brake light, and 2 are going to the lower break lights on the passenger side. That's where the wires got heat up, so I disconnected the center brake light and reconnected the other 3 wires and not the fuse doesn't blow anymore. If I can figure out the way how to prob the wires inside the hatch I will fix the center brake light too, but I am happy for now. ^_^ Thanx for all the help!