Fuse 10, Tach, Econometer, etc

[Threehz]

Ok so today I got my car washed, and a little while afterwards while driving the tachometer, econometer, fuel gauge and maybe some other things died. I wasn't sure what did it but I assumed that it was water shorting something out. Looked around and found fuse 10 was blown, when I went to drop my girlfriend off I had a rough idle after a little bit of sitting and the car even fell almost into a stall, before I turned it off and restarted it. Driving the car a little seemed to fix the idle problem but it returned after being off. (also have a fuel leak which I thought could cause the idle problem but...)

I replaced fuse 10 and all my gauges came back to life, and went on replacing quite a few other gauges, fixing a dim headlight, and now one of my foglights works as opposed to none along with my side markers and both sides of my rear brake lights.

Idle problems seemed to go away also after replacing almost all the fuses. (will replace the rest of old fuses tomorrow just for peace of mind)

Anyhow driving home right now after picking up my girlfriend from work shifted into 4th (which felt a little weird, or maybe it was just me) and the gauges died all over again. Got home a minute later and fuse 10 had popped again!

Sorry for being king of over information but any help would be appreciated. Anyone have any ideas what are some obvious things that would make this blow repeatedly? (maybe just water trapped somewhere that needs to dry?)

[Threehz]

Bump for help please..

Replaced the fuse 3 times today and blew every time, it pops instantly after starting the car now.

Anyone know what is causing this??

With it blown the car has a rough idle that dwindles down to almost dead (haven't let it die, turned it off before it dies) and if I try to drive it will have power loss down till it almost dies, restarting it a couple times and then driving some makes it derivable, until you turn it off at least...

Really would like some input pleasssse.

Info about fuse 10 FYI
10 - 7.5A
Seat belt warning system
Service interval indicator
Tachometer/fuel economy gauge
Instrument gauges and indicators
Brake warning system
Back-up lights
OBC
Starter
Fuel delivery
Idle speed
Active check control
Stop lights and cruise control

Obviously why the gauges go out, and I'm guessing since it fuses idle speed and fuel delivery that's why the poor idle, and symptoms.

[Threehz]

So I removed the instrument panel completely unplugged it and put a new fuse in and it blew. So that means that the short is not coming from the instrument panel, but where else could it be coming from?

Anyone please?

[blackhawkimpact]

Back-up lights plug. Unplug it and see it it still shorts out.
Inside under the shift boot

[wannaBMthree]

Back-up lights plug. Unplug it and see it it still shorts out.
Inside under the shift boot

This, the wire can rub on the shift linkage/transmission and short.

[Threehz]

You guys rock! One of the wires was cut into and rubbing against the metal around the shift boot, made a nice buffer with electrical tape so it should hold up. Working again, now to fix my fuel leak!

and shit I wish I had tried this first, soooooooo much easier then removing the instrument panel T____T