I have an 02 WRX wagon, and my brake light fuse keeps popping. It's not an instant pop, it melts slowly over the course of a few days. Obviously, it's grounding somewhere. Any ideas where to check first? Also, does anyone have a wiring diagram for the system?

No one? Not even a smart ass comment about checking the owner's manual?

Really? I just wanted a wire schematic so that I could see if the brake lights are on the same circuit as anything else. And where any harnesses might be.

another bump

Here ya go...

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o232/wrxwagon2002/BrakeLIghtSchematic.jpg

Thank You!!!!!!!!!! :)

I would suspect the trailer connection and high mounted light as the first culprits.

Kudos to Coyote 73176 for the scan.

I removed the aftermarket trailer connection, and double checked the 3rd brakelight - still blowing out. It pops as soon as the brake pedal switch is kicked. Any ideas? Bad switch?

The brake switch is not the problem. The best way to find the short is to use a ohmmeter. Remove the connector to the switch and place the red meter lead across the wire leading to the lights after the switch. Place the common lead (black) of the meter on a good ground point. The meter should now read near zero ohms. You then need to inspect the wiring leading to the lights and look for a short on the hot lead to ground. Maybe the wire is pinched somewhere or there is a screw going through the wire. Check the areas near the lights first and the lead near the switch for the problem.

I checked with a meter - resistance is zero on 2 and 3. When you cross those two (as in hit brake pedal) the fuse blows. I check the plugs at the lights and everything looks ok there. I am not sure where to look from there as I do not know how the wire is routed.

Check the flexible rubber tube thing on that connects the car to the trunk. It's the thing that the wires run through and I'm willing to bet you have at least one wire in there that has broken insulation or is cut. Happens all the time on wagons.

It's the one on the right hand side if you have the trunk open and looking inside the car, and it's at the top of the car (near the roof). It's most likely the one on the right, because I think the left side one has the windshield washer fluid line.

http://128.205.156.84/snkysnky/wagon.BMP
How do I get to plugs D33,D34, and D35?