Stoplamps fuse keeps breaking
 

I have a 2000 SSEI and all three of my brake lights went out at once. So I immediately went to the stoplamps fuse (15 atm). Sure enough it was broke. I replaced it, and immediately it broke again. Does anyone know why it might be doing this and how I would go about fixing it. Electrical is not my thing so I am having trouble. I've already been pulled over once for it. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Dave

Any water in your tails? Harnesses rubbing against sharp edges?

No water or anything rubbing in the taillights. I changed all four bulbs about a month ago I thought I used what was recommended, but, could that be the problem? If I used the wrong bulbs could I be drawing too much from it??

It is very unlikely that different bulbs would be causing this problem, unless you installed something very radical. Even then, if they were working but now keep blowing fuses immediately, that isn't likely your source of grief.

The relay that turns on your brake lights is in the fuse block under the rear seats. It derives power to turn them on from that same block.

Do you have any problems with other lights? For example, if you have your headlights turned on, do your marker lights work? What about your signals / hazard lights?

If it is a wiring issue, it will be somewhere between the fuse block under the rear seat and the tail lights. Inspect all the wiring very closely. You may have to take the trim carpeting out of the trunk to access everything. Also, take your tail lights off, remove the bulbs and inspect both the bulbs and the sockets carefully. When you replace the fuse, is it okay until you step on the brake pedal the first time, or does it blow as soon as you plug in the new fuse?

Please be sure to answer ALL the questions I've asked ;)

Ok, well with all the rain we have been having lately I discovered my entire floor behind the passenger seat was completely saturated with water. After about four hours of using a shop vac and pulling up the carpet I've gotten most of it out. I ended up putting a 30atm fuse in the stoplamps slot instead of a 15atm and my lights are working. If this was a bad idea someone tell me, but as of now everything is working good. Thanks for all of your help.

You need to take that fuse out immediately, before you're driving a fireball down the street!

A 15A is more than enough and if it isn't there is something wrong. Doing this puts you at a high risk for an electrical fire.

I agree. The wiring could heat up & cause a fire before the fuse can blow.

Got it

Are you absolutely sure that your tails arent leaking? I had the "pool" option in my bonne from a leaking tail. It was during the 04-05 hurricane season and the tail leaked in the trunk, the carpet pad seeped water into the spare tire well and everytime i hit the brakes water sloshed up onto the edge of carpet and pad from the rear seats..causing my swimming pool...just might be worth the 5 minutes it takes to take out the trunk carpet..

just my $.02

Although under the right circumstances there may be some possibility of water entering through the tail lights, this is extremely unlikely. There are three holes large enough for the threaded studs to pass and one about 1.25" in diameter with a sealed pass through for the wiring. GM has redesigned the sheet metal in the tail as compared with the pre-2K vintage.

This of course doesn't eliminate the other 400 locations it may be entering from :(

Good thought though ;)