Nissan Repair: nissan altima dash creak/ instrument panel blackout/ burning odor, nissan altima, dash area

Question
I drove my car last night and all around the same time my instrument panel lights went out (but gauges still work), I heard a weird creak in the dash area particularly on the passenger side whenever I'd hit bumps big and small, and there was a faint burning odor coming from the vents.
I just bought the car used with 86,000 miles. I'm now noticing that there's never been a backlight for the automatic gear shift either and I wonder if this might be related. Thanks so much for your help.

Answer
Will,

The dimmer for the instrument lights is probably blown.  The shift light is probably the bulb.  Remove the shifter cover and remove the bulb.  Radio Shack sells the bulbs for about half the cost of the dealer.  The noise on the passenger side is probably the airconditioner box or something that has been bolted to it.  Remove the glovebox and have someone drive the car while you listen.  With the glovebox removed you should be able to source the noise.