weird dash lights on 5K

[paanta at splatterfish.com]

'88 5ktq weirdness:

If I turn my headlights on BEFORE I insert my key, my dash lights function properly.
If I put the key in and turn on the car and THEN turn my headlights on, my dash
lights do not come on.

In addition, my climate control display lights are very dim during the day.  I can get it
to flash into bright mode by moving the light stalk, but it goes dim again.  Very
strange.

I've replaced the whole windshield wiper/turn signal assembly and the lights still do
the same thing

Hopefully this is a common problem and cheap fix...

Another minor annoyance is that my turn signals don't auto cancel.  Neither
wiper/turn signal assembly has had signals that auto cancel.  Is there something
that's broken on the steering column itself that is supposed to make them cancel?