Brake fuse blows when brakes engaged

[r0tflol1]

Hello,
I have a '92 Explorer Eddie Bauer. I want to thank all of you that have posted over the last few years. I have used many of your tips and much of your advice to keep my baby running well.

Now to today's problem.

I was notified by a passing car that I had no brake lights.

What I have done:
1) replace brake light switch located on brake pedal.
2) replaced all bulbs in fixtures
3) replaced fuse in fuse panel (which was blown)

Currently the brakes will work for a second and then it blows the fuse again.

I was reading the forum and I gather there is a sensor for the cruise control - A deactivation sensor. My vehicle is not affected by the recall. However, I cannot figure out where the other switch is located to try to replace the part that appears to be malfunctioning.

Any assistance of further testing the circuit would be greatly appreciated.
I do not like driving the vehile without the brake lights.
Also any pictures that illustrate the things you are talking about would be wonderful!


Thanks in advance,
r0tflol1

 

[Anime]

As far as I've seen, the cruise control is deactivated when you hit the brakes using the same electrical switch/sensor as the brake lights.

My guess would be there is a short in the wiring to the brake lights, one of the wires may have rubbed on some metal corner for a long time and finally wore through, or something caused a wiring issue. Check all the wiring under the dash with a flashlight, check the wires going to the brake lights by pulling up the door sill trim, and you might also need to pull the rear inside panels if you don't find anything else.

Worst case, with the hood open, door sill panels off, and rear panels off with the tailgate open, either inside a dark garage or in a dark spot at night, get a few fuses and keep putting them in and hitting the brakes until you pinpoint the short, which you will see by the spark it makes.

 

[Tony H]

sure sounds like a wire is shorting to te chassis. Follow the wires from the tail lights and see if you can see a worn harness.

Check the third brak light.. that plastic , crappy fixture is always suspect in my mind.