Still trying get my head round this.
Hell Razor's given some info on fuse 28, but this may be for a later car? Looking at wiring diagrams in my Haynes for early (pre 1998) Xantia, it shows that fuse 28 feeds brakes' circuits, indicators (& hazard lamps), and rear electric windows control unit. Your car being VSX, it may cover other items such as ABS if you have it - alas Haynes doesn't go into detailed wiring diagrams of the different models, and one mustn't assume all in Haynes is gospel, but it's a good guide & starting point. The fact that 28 blows suggests to me that there must be a short, probably to earth, somewhere after fuse 28 in one of these circuits. When does it blow? - ie.does fuse 28 blow without key in the ignition, or on first position of key being turned, 2nd position, or 3rd if you have one?
Going back to your original post, it seems odd that this first happened when you braked hard. So I'm suggesting that first off, go back to the brake pedal, find the brake lamps switch, and IIRC, you should somehow be able to disconnect the 2 wires that go to it. Can't remember exactly, but probably there's a plug that connects into the switch. Pull the plug & retry electrics ie. fuse 28 (hope you've got a bagful of spare fuses
) . What this should show is whether the fault is between there and the rear brake lights. If fault still remains, then fault lies elsewhere.
By the way, do the hazard lights function OK? They'll work with no key, so test them, and give the hazard lights switch a few goes, to make sure it is working OK.
From what I understand from the diagrams, the starter should spin so long as the key is turned, always assuming the key switch is working OK - there's no fuse in that part of the circuitry. Also presuming starter and it's solenoid are OK. If there is a short, then I suppose it's then possible that not enough current is getting to the starter for it to function. Am bit bothered about the short, as a bad short would be dangerous (ie. fire risk, hence metal foil or a nail to replace fuse, as done in the old days, is not a good idea!)
if you have got to here and thinking, what do I do next, then I'm not sure, but tempted to suggest pulling the relay that keeps ticking madly.
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