Pontiac Repair: 87 firebird dashlights out, fuse box, head lamps

Question
HI. The dash lights in my 87 firebird (2.8 v6 base model) won't come on when I turn my headlights on. I checked the fuse in the fuse box and got a new dimmer switch, but neither of these things helped. The courtesy lights come on when I open the door and I can still turn the dome light on by rotating the dimmer to the up position. I just can't get the dash to light up so I can drive at night w/o a flashlight. I hear it may be an in-line fuse issue, but couldn't locate where it would be (if it has one). Can you offer any suggestions? Thanks for any help.

Answer
Hey Jon:

I don't have access to any old service manuals that go back that far. But I can tell you that the interior lights dimming has it's own fuse. usually not inline but in the fude box. It's usually labeled dim or int/dim in the fuse box. The fuse is only powered up when the head lamps are on so if you check it with the lamps off the fuse will not have powwer. The other though is this back in the later 80's some of the cars had a dimmer module thye used to go bad on the old grand am's all the time I don't know if this car had that same technology or not. check the fuse and see what you have and if you still can't find the issue during the week e-mail me back and I'll see if i can find something on that car through our old archives maybe a newer model was the same as the 87 you have. good luck :}