Ok I popped out last night first time in a few months in the dark and when I turn on lights the dash is only dimly lit and won't brighten eith switch and the other interior switches etc are not illuminated ???

I've checked all fuses and that the switch was plugged in correctly.

Try adjusting the instrument cluster ilumination dial from minimum to maximium like 10 times, DON'T DO IT TOO FAST, SOMETHING COULD GET DAMAGED, this could clean some corrosion from the switch, than try adjusting it slowly to see if there is some sort of position where it gets brighter. I think on my fabia the adjuster is a bit crackly after the many years. 

Or it might be a short somewhere that loads down the circuit but doesn't blow the fuse. 

 

The knob/dial on the left that is indicated in red adjusts the ilumination of the instruments, I don't know if it adjusts the ilumination of the interior switches. 

I have had the 2 switches out and cleaned the contact and used contact cleaner on them but still no go.

There's some electronics in there that fails sometimes. Grab a spare from a scrapyard to try.

Yeah I did think that I'm sure the light switchbis good it's that dimmer but would that stop those other switches illuminating ???

Yeah, I think it supplies all the backlighting. 

So I just borrowed a light switch from a friend's mk1 but dash still doing same if I switch on lights eith no key in it's back-lit bright as soon as I put key in its back to only dimly lit and other switches not illuminated again.

Could ignition have anything to do with it ???

Well I'm totally stumped on this one I've had lower dash off now and checked all wiring looks good but I'm awaybin two weeks and really need this resolved for then or I can't drive of a night.

Is it a difficult job to change the ignition switch and anything to look out for ???

So I got a new dimmer and light switch the back light on the light switch now lights but dash dimmer status still same and the window switches etc still not lighting up ???

I must admit I keep my dimmer turned down to minimum so my night vision will be at its keenest, there's not much information I'd deem essential other than an occasional glance at the Speedo to see how badly I'm exceeding the prevailing speed limit.

So I went to put on the heater this morning for first time in ages and it's just blowing cold and ac not illuminating or turning on so is all the above connected.

Skip the heter part I've resolved that issue lol.

So latest it appears that when the light switch is turned off it illuminates but when I switch lights on the switch is not illuminated I keep hearing it may be the actual ignition switch but if I replace it needs to be coded is this correct ???

No, you can't code a switch, it's a simple electro-mechanical part, perhaps you mean the new key has to be coded?

It's just the actual switch so I would be good to just change out if needs be not the barrel thanks

Well it's not the ignition switch I'm really scratching my head eith this one.

Bump

I'm assuming it has to be a ground issue with switch on when should be off and vice versa ???