1996 STS DRL / Interior lights problem

First off Hi, and thanks for any responses that come.....
Now, I just bought a 1996 STS and I have a couple of small issues which I am hoping someone can help me with.

My daytime running lights seem to have a ghost in the system. Sometimes, they work, other times they do not. In addition to the actual headlights, the interior lights seem to be connected to the problem. Sometimes, if I cover the sensor on the dash with a towel, the DRL's will come on full strength. When this happens, the interior lights also work when I open the door. Other times, towel or no towel, light out or dark out, they do not work. (both the hedlamps and the interior lights) They both work if I use the manual dimmer switch. They also come on when I unlock the car via the remote door fob. I cleaned off the sensor with some alcohol, but it did not make a difference. Is it possible that maybe the sensor wires have a short in them? Any help would be great. This is one of those annoying problems that I have spent hours trying to figure out.