2008 HHR SS - Often when I start the car the dash lights do not come on. I get the warning indicators before I start the car but, often, the rest of the dash lights will not come on when the car is started; no DIC information and no radio lights even if I turn the radio on. Often, when I start the car in the garage, lights are fine but as soon as I back out of the garage, they'll go out - not all the time but often. When they are off, they may stay off the rest of my driving trip or may suddenly come back on. Doesn't matter if it's daytime or nighttime. The dash light dimmer has no effect when they're not on but will dim/bright when they are on.
Lately, my trips have been very short shopping or running errands so I don't consider the issue to be that critical but would like to find out why it happens. Any ideas?

 

Where is the dash light dimmer switch in it’s position? That switch on the left of the fog light, TC switch.

Not an SS but there to the left of the fog light switch

 

Do you keep things on top of the dash, covering the little bubble? In other words; do the DRLs work?

 

As I noted, " The dash light dimmer has no effect when they're not on but will dim/bright when they are on." It has no effect when there are no lights, it works as it should when there are lights.

Nothing is on top of the dash, DRLs work as they should.

 

Probably the dimmer switch then.

 

Sounds like a loose connection, maybe behind the dash, or at the dimmer.

 

Apparently the dimmer switch works as it should.

 

When it works it works. If the wiper inside is mangled it will be intermittent.

 

'...wiper...'?

 

It is a variable resistor with a wiper (the part that moves).