Instrument Panel lights help

[BlackGT1]

Okay so I just bought my car Wednesday.
I found out afterward that my Illumination lights for my Speedo, Tach, Fuel and Water temp gauges, the lights behind the AC controld, and the light down on the console for my shifter are not turning on. I checked all the fuses, so did two other people, and they are good, took out the dimmer switch and the prongs for the dash lights arent receiving power.I have no idea want to do from here other than the dealership. I need slme help please.
I have a 2001 Grand Prix GT

 

[dpzelenak]

why make two threads and not just add on to the other one???

anyways,
on top of the fuse's did you check the relay, iirc theres and relay that gets switched on to turn on the lights

 

[BlackGT1]

Oops haha. I was just wondering if I may have got some other view points in a different category.
No I didnt check the relays, honestly I dont know how.
Electrical components are not my thing

 

[dpzelenak]

the real way to check them is with a dmm and but if theres is one(i think there is) you can check to see if theres a click coming from them and feel it to..thats the norm of checking them

 

[BlackGT1]

Alright I'll do that

 

[BlackGT1]

I didnt get to go to the shop today, unexpected stuff popped up. But my dash lights came on while sitting in front of someones house. I rush back to my house got in the drive way, and they are still on. They stayed on for about two minutes, with me messing with them, then i turned the lights off and they didnt come back on when i switched them back on. i messed around no luck. But I had some small interior work to do so i left the lights on with the car running to see what happened. they came on two more times, but for no more than 20 seconds each time. What is my problem now?
Im going with a short in the switch or the wiring.

 

[gtcoup]

replace the switch itself