Hello Liz.
I went over your question and looked for a common problem for them both.
There are two different problems according to diagrams.
First, the cigarette lighter. Most times I see this problem it is in the lighter socket or the lighter shorting out.
One 20 amp fuse supplies power to cigarette lighters and power outlets. There is a separate fuse for the rear power outlet if it has one.
Look for any foreign materials inside each of the outlet sockets. If the lighter is used I would suspect it is the most likely suspect.
This is a diagram for the lighter circuit.
Next is the instrument panel. Make sure your panel dimmer is turned all the way up.(OK, you probably checked this already, but I need to cover all of it).
There are several bulbs in the circuit. If only the dash light bulbs (there are 4 of them) are out you may need to pull the instrument panel to access the problem.
If all dash lights are out the fuse for it may be burned as well and you will have to trace the short in the circuit.
There is also a bulletin regarding panel dimming. I also have added it to here.
TECHNICAL
Subject:
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Backlighting Inoperative During Daylight Hours (Reprogram BCM)
Models:
2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu Maxx
2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
2006 Chevrolet HHR
2005-2006 Pontiac G6, Pursuit (Canada Only)
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2007 Saturn Sky Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint 7Y102344
Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to add a statement that backlighting
is only active during daylight hours with headlamps manually turned on.
Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 06-08-49-016A (Section 08 -
Body & Accessories).
Condition
Some customers may comment that the backlighting on the IPC does not
illuminate in the daylight hours with headlamps manually turned on. They
may further state that the backlighting does function at night, but not
in the day time.
Cause
On these vehicles, backlighting for the IPC is not enabled unless the
vehicle's lighting photocell determines that there is a nighttime
ambient condition. Backlighting is not controlled through the use of the
park lamp or headlamp switch. The conditions under which the photocell
activates the backlighting may not satisfy each particular customer's
personal expectations, or the customer may simply prefer to have the
backlighting always illuminated on the IPC when headlamps are manually
turned on.
Correction
Module reprogramming must be done using the Pass-Thru method. Select
"Instrument Panel (Backlight Dimming Fix ONLY)" from the Supported
Controllers list.
For customers who wish to have the IPC backlighting illuminated, a
new service calibration is now available that will activate the
backlighting to full intensity during daytime hours with headlamps
manually turned on. Reprogram the BCM using SPS. The new calibrations are currently available on TIS2WEB.
Tracing what used to be simple electrical problems in todays vehicles has become not so simple anymore. If you need more help with this, please ask me here in comments.
Thank you for using Fixya.
KL