Brake fuse blowing when put in gear

I just bought a 2005 Tundra double cab a few days ago, and didn't realize I had no brake lights until today. I found the stop fuse was blown and replaced it and had brake lights. Later that day I was told I didn't have brake lights again. Long story short, I've determined that the fuse doesn't pop until I have put the truck in gear. When I'm just sitting in park and I put a new fuse in, the brake lights work fine. But the second I move the shifter the fuse pops. I've never run across something like that before. I'm unsure of what the truck being in gear would have anything to do with the brake light fuse.

 

When you move the shifter reverse is the first position that you encounter. Did the PO do any trailer wiring? They might have shorted the brake light wiring to the backup light wiring somehow. I would look under the truck by the back bumper for a trailer plug install and check the wiring job.

 

Good call. Sometimes the boxes themselves will fail too and cause similar issues.

 

Well I assumed it was from putting it in gear.. but I ended up determining that it was happening once I was in the truck and putting pressure on the suspension. I chased the harness back and found a teeny tiny open spot on a wire that was touching the frame once I put weight in the truck. A lot of trouble for such a simple thing. Thanks for the help guys

 

Glad you found it and it was a simple fix and for letting us know the outcome.