Gauge lights not working, fuse keeps blowing

[MyMopar]

I don't know why, but my guage lights aren't lighting up anymore.  I checked and the number 5 fuse was blown (5amp)  I replaced it with a 10amp just to check and that one also blew.  
So I guess this means I have a direct short somewhere?  I hat ei t because I haven't done any electrical work to the car.  Well now that I think about it, there were some plugs running across the floor boards that I plugged in when I put the new carpet in.  I thought they were for the seat belt sensors.  
Are they on the same circuit?  What would be the best way to diagnose where the short is?
Oh give me a broken motor anyday over elctrical gremlins.    

[Chryco Psycho]

you definatly have a short in the dash light circuit , most of the wires should be orange & yes there is a wire that runs down the left rocker panel & crosses under the drivers seat that lights the shifter

[MyMopar]

Ok I'll trace the orange wires and see what I can isolate.  Does the dash circuit also do anything with the seat belts?  I guess I'll have to pull the seats out and unhook the wires that I connected to see if that makes a difference.  Thanks

[Bullitt-]

da book says fuse cavity five...5 Amps...
cluster lamps
gear selector lamp
ash reciever lamp
radio lamp
stereo cassette lamp
heater or a/c comtrol lamp.

[Chryco Psycho]

the dash circuit & seat belts are not related but there is a orange wire to the console that goes under the drivers seat so it may look like a seat belt light wire

[pink panther]

I had a similar problem with my turn signals, traced it with a multi meter and found a loose ground.

[MyMopar]

da book says fuse cavity five...5 Amps...
cluster lamps
gear selector lamp
ash reciever lamp
radio lamp
stereo cassette lamp
heater or a/c comtrol lamp.

Thanks everyone for the info.  My heater control is FRIED, the connecter is all melted and it was HOT! 
I figure the cluster lamps are ok seeing how they were working.

Before I do anymore I will study the wires to the a/c heater control and see if any actually melted together and are shorting out.  From there I will start checking the other lamps. 

A bad ground will blow the fuse?  I figured it will just prevent the light from lighting or light erratically.

[MyMopar]

Well I would like to report that my problem is solved    Turns out that a wire that was connected to what I thought was ground was actually part of the gauge ligth, probbaly for the radio that isn't there    In any case, the lights work, the dimmer switch is bad though because I have to have it just right for the lights to come on.  I also will have to trace the shifter light wire as that is not getting power.

[Bullitt-]

get some contact cleaner for electronics & pull the dimmer for a good cleanig....they do tend to green over with age.

[Chryco Psycho]

or just put a jumper across the dimmer as most of us have them on bright anyway

[MyMopar]

or just put a jumper across the dimmer as most of us have them on bright anyway

I cleaned the contacts when I pulled the dash apart, didn't seem to make a difference.  I do have them on bright sop I might just jumper them.  Thanks.