Toyota Repair: No running lights, dash lights or back-up lights, fuse blows, toyota paseo

Question
Bought used Toyota Paseo 1993 115,00 miles 5 spd, has seen rough times. Have no background on repair history.

Fuse bad at fuse panel marked tail, replaced and turned on running lights and fuse blows again. I do have headlights, turn signals and flashers. Looked in engine compartment fuse box and everything okay, all other fuses underdash okay also? Where would I start to solve this one?

Answer
Remove both of the tail light assemblies and remove all the bulbs, check all the bulb socket contacts if any are burned or melted replace the entire bulb holder, replace all the bulbs, you can see if the short circuit is in the wiring by removing the electrical connectors from the tail lights then reinstall a new fuse, turn the headlights on and if the fuse stays in the problem is in the tail lights.
Also make sure that the correct bulbs are installed in the sockets, some of them have to contacts and some only one, be sure the bulbs match the contacts.