Electrical problem, need input.

[Courtster]

Hey guys, I'm having an electrical problem, and before I go changing all kinds of stuff, I want to know if anyone has had this problem.

The 7.5 amp fuse under the hood that runs the dome and trunk lights and the clock and the alarm keeps blowing. It'll happen a couple times a week. All the lights and alarm and clock work fine when I put a new one in maybe for a day or two, then pop. Untill this last one, it popped almost immediately.

I tried a 10 amp fuse just to see, and it popped. Should I try changing out the lights? Thanks for your help!

[Jon11582]

Are you using the original bulbs or aftermarket bulbs? If aftermarket, which ones?

If its a fuse for just those little bulbs, and your pulling over 10amps, seems like theres might be a distribution problem, or something else is pulling on that line that pulls a good deal of wattage. Anything aftermarket electrical get installed?

[Courtster]

All stock bulbs. Everything is stock except the stereo, which isn't tied into that circuit.

[SC V6]

probably a ground somewhere.. start checking the lights and see if one is grounding somewhere

[Jetfixer]

Rule No. 1, Never put in a bigger fuse unless you want the bigger fire. That said, according to my wiring manual, the fuse you are talking about feeds a lot more that you think. What you have to realize is in todays cars a small fuse can power a controller that controls a device that uses more current than it's controller. Very confusing, but what it boils down to is that a small fuse like this 7.5 can power the circuit that controls the headlights without the headlight current going through that fuse. In the case of your 7.5 Dome fuse, it ultimately controls all these:

Cigarette Lighter and Clock
Combination Meter
Fog Light (w/ Daytime Running Light)
Headlight (Canada)
Headlight (USA w/ Daytime Running Light)
Interior Light
Key Reminder and Seat Belt Warning
Light Auto Turn Off
Theft Deterrent
Wireless Door Lock Control

This is per the service manual. BTW what Toyota calls a combination meter, most of us would call the instrument cluster. My first guess is that you are plugging in something to the cig lighter that is pulling too much power. It's very unlikely that some of these other systems could have had anything change to be causing this problem. If this doesn't fix it, try removing the light bulbs and see if the fuse holds. Make sure no water is in the connectors. After that check the switches for the doors to make sure that no wiring has been chafed and is grounding out.