i dont have dash lights when the headlights are on i still have turn signals and the highbeam indicator and interior lights. do the switches have a tendancy of going bad ? i replaced all the lights in the guage cluster and i also checked for cracks on the circut board. any other ideas im thinking its the the dash dimmer switch.

 

Did you try changing the fuse ?

 

I have this problem, my dimmer switch doesnt even work at all, my fuse is fine, so I blame the fuse. They try to come on sometimes but it doesnt work in the end. :[

Let me know if you get a dimmer and it fixes it!

 

I'll be dimes to doughnuts that its the actual dimmer/headlight switch. Mine did the same thing and the dimmer was to blame. There is a little trick you can try that worked for me as a temporary fix. On the dimmer switch as you know if you slide it all the way up and past the detent the dome lights will come on. Try that and see if your dash lights up. If so (like mine did) rock the dimmer back just a touch until the dome lights turn off but yet to where its almost halway off the detent. With any luck your dash lights will now be lit at full power.

I cant explain why this works but it worked on my 2000 and on another one my friend had that was a 98. In both cases the dimmers had shorted and that trick worked as a temporary fix.

 

Replaced my dimmer switch today, all problems gone. Give it a try!