20 Amp Fuse Issue

I have an issue with the fuse that powers the dash lights/tail lights in my 2000 Wrangler.  The 20 amp fuse keeps blowing almost as soon as I put it in, however when I replaced it with a 25 amp fuse, and it seems to be working fine.

1.  Any idea what might be causing this?

2.  Can I leave the 25 amp fuse in permanently, or am I risking damaging the Jeep further, or even risking a fire?  

are you drawing extra power? car charger, I-Pod, one of those fm adapters? The stock 20 amp will carry most of these but some draw more juice.  

I don't have anything else that is drawing power.  My guess is that there's a short somewhere, but I have no way of knowing if that's it for sure or where it is, without taking it into the local Jeep garage.  
As above, the 20 amp fuse keeps blowing, but the 25 amp fuse that I put in to replace it seems to be working fine, which is what puzzles me.  

check the wire running to the brake lights they can rub r chafe to the point that it can contact metal shorting out also its easier to fix a piece of wire than the entire wire (trust me)  
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not only the founder of the white trash mafia im also a member

94 yj over the limit and out of control

" You can say what you want about the South,
but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving North..."

woodsman58

Might could check the headlight switch too, being that the power for the lights goes through there.  

in my 94yj i had a problem with the brake light wire tried a stronger fuse and almost burned jeep down  had to replace entire wire to rear lights... so carefully check all wiring to be sure you haven't got a wire making a ground that isn't supposed to be there  
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not only the founder of the white trash mafia im also a member

94 yj over the limit and out of control

" You can say what you want about the South,
but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving North..."

woodsman58

If your lights aren't on and you don't think that
the above mentioned items are the reason for the short,
another area You might want to look at is harder to
reach, but always has wiring problems is the Fuel Float
Harness. It may not be occurring in the tank,(as a short
would cause a fire or worse.) Check the back of the gauge
pack, the through the fire-wall connection,( this could
very easily become the problem if the vehicle was mudding
or submerged) and along the drivers-side frame rail.

It pretty much comes down to any wires that pass through
the firewall. From the cab of the vehicle to the junction
block and/or any miscellaneous wires that pass through
the firewall. If You have a wire(s) passing through, near
the steering column this too could be chafed and causing
a short-circuit.

Do Not Use a Higher Amperage fuse as this is only
circumventing the problem and You could be causing
more damage by doing so.

Best Wishes on finding this Gremlin.

Keep Shake~Rattle~n~Rolling with the BoneShkr
'93YJ, '98 F-150, '03 Softail, '04 Ram Q/C, &
coming soon a new 2012 JK~4x4x4    .