'95 Astro's dash lights intermittent

My '95 Astro's dash lights don't work unless the interior is warm. All gauges and accessories work fine. While driving at night with the headlights on the dash lights turn on after the heater has warmed up the interior. I can sometimes smack the dash with my fist to get the dash lights to go on.

Does this include the radio lighting? If so, the problem is more likely closer to the dimmer control or tap from the tail light fuse to the INST lamp fuse. Checked the fuse panel and fuse condition lately?

The radio and AC/heater control lights are fine, and the dimmer works fine. It's the the dash lighting that's the problem. Does it sound like a lose/bad connection or a bad ground to the circuit board behind the dash. The temperature issue stumps me. Warm they work and cold they don't.

More on this....when I say dash lights I mean the lighting for the speedo and engine instrumentation.

I suspected you were asking about the instrument lighting, which is why I asked about the radio lighting. I would suspect the rectangular bulkhead connector and copper foils in the rear of the I/P.

Thanks again for help on both problems. From what I've read on other threads, I've also got an EGR with some carbon holding it open. The info from this website is far more useful than a tech manual.

I had similar problem. they seems to work when they wanted to. I just took out the instrment panel, repositioned it and screwed it back on. I haven't had a problem since.

They must have changed things in 97. my 97 astro dash lights will not come on unless the dash is cold (<50 deg F) and I live in Arizona. Part of same prob is high beam ind lite and turn signal lites are reversed, off when should be on and on when should be off. The odometer light is ok, radio clock is ok and they work with dimmer control. I tried the closed fist on the dash but no effect (maybe I need a bigger fist)......... help! why temperature effects it?