I've got some weird what i think is a rubbed wire somewhere. If i get in, put the parking brake on and then turn the key to run/before start i wont have DRLs or Auto night lamps. if i release the Parking brake everything comes back. Related is if i shake the truck (foot on running board and grab the roof rack) the ABS light will come on, and shaking it again the Pbrake light will flash briefly after the ABS light goes back out. Also-probably related is the Aux power fuse blowing with nothing plugged into the 12v Ports.

 

So, with the the key out and the parking brake on, then turning on the truck, the DRL and Auto Headlamps are not supposed to come on. If the truck is on with the park-brake still on and then the park-brake released, the DRL/Auto-headlamp system will then come on. That is normal. I grew up in a hilly area and my driveway has a slope so I'm always using my park-brake.

As for shaking the truck and getting electrical systems going on and off, that does sound weird. That you have a fuse blowing is definitely an issue.

BTW, is it the ABS or SRS light that is coming on? The SRS light could go on and off if the crash sensors are not working correctly.

I've attached the schematic I scanned from my 99 service manual for the Aux Pwr and Cig Ligher circuit. As you can see it is super simple so you should be able to find the short.

 

Thanks for the info, ABS light for sure, i've only ever seen the SRS light on during cluster panic test when the key is first turned on as it should be. i put a new fuse in and did some looking around and its not blown again so im going to guess it was from before i even got the truck a while back and i never noticed it until today when i went hunting for fuses

 

Maybe not for our fuses, but I've actually had one of those tubular glass fuses physically break on me out of fatigue.

BTW, love the expression "cluster panic test." Captures it perfectly!