My brake fuse keeps blowing. It works fine until I either use the turn signal or flashers. I took the wheel off so I could see what was going on. When I use the turn signal, the contacts spark and the fuse blows. After the fuse blows, the turn signals still work and the tail lights still work, just no brake lights. Is there a way to test the turn signal switch to make sure it is good? Or do you think there is some wire crossed? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, anyone have a good diagram showing how to rebuild the column? (this has been a problem since I bought the car - 68 Chevelle). Thanks.

I bet you have a bare wire in the steering column. You need to pull the signal switch out and have a good luck at the wiring on the switch.

Dave

I bet you have a bare wire in the steering column. You need to pull the signal switch out and have a good luck at the wiring on the switch.

Dave
That's what it sounds like. :yes:

Does it only blow the brake light fuse when the turn signal switch is activated and not when depressing the brake pedal with the turn signal switch in the "off" position?

I think I would disconnect the column connector and check continuity of the wires to ground.
I believe the white wire is the feed from the brake light switch to the turn signal switch.

The brakes work fine until I hit the turn signal or hazards. Then the fuse blows. I will check the wiring when I get home tonight. I didn't see anything last night but will recheck. Thanks.

Here is a pic of the harness side of the turn signal switch connector that's clipped on to the steering column support under the dash.
The white wire comes from the "cold" side of the brake light switch. This wire gets current when the brake pedal is depressed
The dark green wire goes to the right turn signal/brake light bulb at the rear.
The yellow wire goes to the left turn signal/brake light bulb at the rear.
The purple wire goes to the "L" shaped connector at the turn signal flasher under the dash. This wire gets current through the pink wire going into the flasher. When the turn signal is on, current flows through the flasher, heating the bimetal strip inside the flasher, and as it heats up, the strip bends and breaks the current to the purple wire. This turns off the bulbs, the bimetal cools off and makes contact again, sending current to the purple wire and lighting the signal bulbs again.
The brown wire comes from the hazard light flasher on the fuse box. It works the same as the turn signal flasher.
One of the two dark blue wires goes to the left turn signal indicator bulb in the dash, the other goes to left front turn signal bulb in the front bumper.
One of the two light blue wires goes to the right turn signal indicator bulb in the dash, the other goes to the right front turn signal bulb in the front bumper.
The black wire is the ground for the horn relay, grounded through the horn switch in the steering wheel.

To test, pull the connector apart, use a DVOM on the ohms scales, attach one lead to ground, and check the wires going into the column one at a time to see if any of them show continuity to ground. Do this test with the turn signal stalk in the off position, the left turn position, and the right turn position.
To test the wiring to the lights, disconnect the battery, remove the turn signal/brake light bulbs at all positions, and unplug the flashers. Use the DVOM to check continuity to ground on all the wires at the harness side of connector except the black wire. None of these should be grounded, if one of them is, then that's the wire with the short. Good luck,
BillL
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/pvpatriot1/Wiring%20stuff/T-Sswitchconnector.jpg

Thanks Bill. Great info. Just to make sure, when you say going into the column, you mean the harness going towards the underside of the dash?

Nope, the harness that goes from the plug that I pictured runs up and inside the steering column to the turn signal switch. That harness has all the wires molded together, here's a pic I took tonight of a part of the harness. I couldn't get all the way under the dash to get a better one, need to lose a little weight.:)
BillL

EDIT:Found a better pic & emailled it to you.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/pvpatriot1/Wiring%20stuff/T-Sswitchconnector01.jpg