Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I've been lurking for a while but now I need some help please.

Problem: Fuse 16 (wipers, washer pump, hi-lo relay, wiper park-run relay) on my 2000 Ranger XLT keeps blowing, causing the wipers to stop working.

Symptoms: Here's where it gets weird. The first time this happened, I was driving on a straight, flat road and the wipers stopped mid-wipe. I replaced the fuse and all was well until later the same day. Same thing happened. The fuse blew 3 times but only after about 10 minutes of driving with the wipers on.
I replaced the fuse again and it blew as soon as I turned the wipers on.
I sprayed WD-40 on all the linkage thinking something was binding somewhere, but no luck. I disconnected the motor from the linkage and tried running it. The motor ran for about 2 seconds before the fuse blew.
I unplugged the motor and turned the wipers on, and no fuse blew. Thinking that the problem must be in the motor, I bought a new one and plugged it in without connecting the linkage, but it also blew the fuse. I'm at the end of my knowledge as to what the problem may be.

I thought there might be a short in the circuit somewhere, but if a wire is grounding out, it would have blown even if there wasn't anything connected, right?
I also swapped the hi-lo and horn relays since they're the same part, but that didn't help. I have cleaned the wiper switch using the guide on this site.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Side notes: I noticed fuse 17 is also blown (data link connector and cigar lighter). The dome light stays on when the door is closed, but the door chime functions properly

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2000 Ranger XLT Sport 3.0L Auto Trans
327,000 kms on body (203,000 mi)
195,000 on engine (121,000 mi)

With the car in the off position, remove the negative battery cable and use a multi-meter to test continuity between the positive battery terminal and the engine block. If there is continuity, you have a short.

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2001 Ford Ranger with the flare sides. 4x4 with a 4.0 engine. The only thing I did so far is: F/R Brakes, rotors, drums, F/R shocks, tires, bed cap, cone filter, hanger/shackles, F/P wheel bearing, upper control arm, lower ball joint, filler neck, fuel filter and DPFE sensor, muffler, sway bar links and spark plugs!

Just tried that but no continuity. There's no short anywhere that I can tell. The hi-lo relay works because I can hear it clicking when the motor is unplugged. If
The fuse doesn't blow when the motor is unplugged does
That mean the multifunction switch is okay?

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2000 Ranger XLT Sport 3.0L Auto Trans
327,000 kms on body (203,000 mi)
195,000 on engine (121,000 mi)

I just reinstalled the brand new wiper motor. It ran for about ten minutes but got very hot. I'm baffled as to what this could be and I'd rather not buy a multifunction switch and/or CTM as I'm on a college student budget!

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2000 Ranger XLT Sport 3.0L Auto Trans
327,000 kms on body (203,000 mi)
195,000 on engine (121,000 mi)