An easy way to check this phenomina out would be to simply take off  the
gauge cluster cover,and turn the lights on in daylight-----
Put you finger down on the switch to see if it's getting hot----or just
look if it's smoking----

 Subject: Smoking Dash

Last night on the way home I smelt something burning (electrical burn).
It went away and then came back. After a while my dash lights and head
lights began turning on and off. Through the darkness I realized that
smoke was coming out of my dash (above the headlight switch) I pulled
over and turned the switch off. I had to drive the rest of the way home
pulling the brights on. Is this what happens when the switch goes bad,
or is it more serious.
thanks
chris