Im totally lost

Just a thought since I do not have a wiring diagram for you vehicle, but try this. With the headlights off, see if the dimming knob for the lights inside the vehicle actually dim the lights on the dash. They should be on even during the day with the key in the on position. If they do not dim, suspect the switch. Normally, if driving when day passes to night, and you turn on the headlights, the dash lights automatically so the driver does not get blinded temporarily when the headlights are on. If the dimming function does not work, and the dash lights are either full on or full off, when the system tries do dim the lights, they go off. This would be a rheostat (dimer switch) built into the switch, normally, and can be manually adjusted via a knob near the light switch.