STOP fuse (#4) keeps blowing

I have a 2014 model whose STOP fuse has been blowing for the last few days. It's the one under the hood, not inside the cabin. From what I see on the owner's manual:

Fuse number : 4
Fuse name : STOP
Descripton : Stop lights, high mounted stop light, vehicle stability control system, anti-lock brake system, shift lock system, multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system, towing converter

No noticeable adverse event has happened to trigger this. I stopped my truck at a gate, put it in Park to go open the gate, came back in and it would not shift out of Park. The ABS and traction control lights were on. I had to use the shifter override to proceed. The above fuse was blown. I replaced it with another fuse and it blew immediately when I restarted the truck. Not really sure what could be happening or how to proceed with a fix. Any tips? Thanks.

 

Maybe a bad brake switch?

 

Do you have a fiberglass shell with a 3rd brake light in it? Check the wiring behind the taillight for a ground fault.

 

Put a different brake switch in and the fuse blew right away as well.

 

Do you have the Tow Package?
If so, I’d inspect the trailer plug.
It’s labeled on the cover. See if the ones labeled Stop/Turn is shorted to Ground.

Other than than, you could pull the stop lamp relay and see what one is shorted to ground.
If the fuse blows with the relay pulled, the problem is between the relay and fuse.
More than likely that’s is not the problem, and you’ll need to use a Test light or meter to trace the problem.

@Dm93

 

It is hot at all times so does it blow immediately when you plug it in or when you step on the brake? If it blows when you plug it in you don't have much to trace but if it does when you step on the brake there's alot of stuff it feeds so your gona have to look for chafed/rubbed wires. Start with exterior wiring as that would be more likely to get cut/rubbed/chafed, also if there have been any recent modifications done look in those areas.

 

This ^. Sounds like a direct short to ground.

 

Replace fuse with an incandescent bulb, start disconnecting wires one circuit at a time to isolate based on schematic provided above. Start with any circuit you modified or messed with recently related to the stop lamp fuse supply.

 

So I put a fresh fuse in to check when it blows. I had not checked for any loose wires or shorts yet, but had been driving around. It did not blow when I plugged it in. It did not blow when I started the car. It did not blow when I stepped on the brake. The ABS and traction control lights stayed on for a bit and then turned off. Shifter moves freely without override. It's been back to being fine for about 8 hours now. I think this points to there being some loose wire somewhere that moved between then and now. Unfortunately I cannot diagnose a short in the current state since there is none, but I will be sure to reference the tips here if it happens again.

 

Mine is blowing but when it blows is when I flip of my e brake. Did you get it fixed?

 

If it's only blowing when you release the park brake then there has to be a harness that is getting rubbed/pinched by the park brake pedal/handle assembly. Take a look in that area for any harnesses that may be rubbing or getting pinched.

 

Had it blow only twice in a row before, found cause to be license plate light(s) water got inside and fried them

 

New post with question! NOT OP

i recently replaced these lights with LED after breaking the housing on bumper disassembly. The new license plate lights work, my turn signals work, and my 3rd brake light works. My L/R break lights do not. I replaced a fuse and they worked again, for about a week. Replaced the fuse and second time they don’t come on. Any suggestions? I’m not great with schematics.

I thought maybe it could be the STOP fuse under the hood but I haven’t done anything with that yet.
I have replaced the fuse under the dash.
No luck.

 

You have a 17 according to your profile which would be a 3rd gen (this is the 2nd gen section).

The STOP Fuse powers the center high mount stop light as well as the rear stop lights so if the center light is working the fuse is good.

Have you checked for power at the rear lights on Pin 1 (Blue) with the brake depressed?