Dash lights not coming on or tail lights - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm

Check the main fuse that comes off the battery.

This may help, but check all the fuses

https://www.justanswer.com/buick/61gr1-buick-century-no-dash-lights-tail-lights.html

It is a known issue!

https://www.google.com/search?q=1991+Buick+ultra+no+dash+lights%2C+tail+lights%2C+or+turn+signals.

..

current for tail lights and dash lights is coming from headlight switch Brown wire.
Don't forget the ground. or common ground
hope it helps

wiring issue

Check the tail light bulbs, check to make sure the dash lighting switch is turned up but not turned so far up that the interior lights come on when the door is closed.

The dash light are on the same circuit as the tail lights as a safety feature. You know when the tail light are out because the dash lights go out when they do. Check the fuse box. If the lights are going out and coming back on the fuse or wiring to that fuse may be loose.

may be the switch, these dash mounted head light switch had problem with the electrical connector burning.

If the dash lights are coming on when you step on the brakes you have a grounding problem. The brake light are seeking a ground through the dash lights and tail lights. Check the ground wire near the rear of the vehicle, follow the wire harness there should be a wire (probably black) that breaks out and is bolted to the body or the frame. It could be the light socket itself but for both sides to fail is unlikely.

bnagaki: Your dash, side marker and tail lights are all on the same circuit. When you say, that the tail lights work when you turn the light switch of, essentially what you have is the operation of your brake lights which are on a different circuit and the turn signals which are also on a different circuit. If you are loosing the lights that you are describing when you turn the light switch on, do they come on briefly? OR, they don't come on at all? If they don't come on at all, check the fuse for that circuit, it is a 10 amp fuse.
You may also have a problem with the head lamp switch it self.
That vehicle also had a tail light relay. It is located on the drivers side kick panel, second relay from the top. The dash lights have a dimmer switch that may be turned all the way down.
Good hunting.

Head light Switch Most likley

DRL (Daytime Running Lights) will come on any time you start your car.
The dash lights do not come on, unless your headlights turn on. Either by a daylight sensor or if you manually turn them on by the switch.
So even though your headlights are on with the DRL, if you notice the tail lights do not come on (just like the dash lights don't).

To test if your dash lights do work, turn your headlight switch on. You should the the tail lights and dash lights come on.