okay so my battery is hooked up and my interior instrument lights aren't working should they be working without the car running i'm just wondering because i still have to get my car running. i have a 1966 thunderbird landau q-code

If your parking/headlights are on, the dash light should be working. Mine are so dim when turned to full bright, I cannot see them in daylight. Try them at night. You have a rheostat built into the headlight switch so turn it clockwise to brighten the dash lights. If that doesn;t make them visible, you may need to replace the bulbs.