My interior lights do not always work (particularly the driver's one)

The two lights are connected in parallel. If one works and the other doesn't then the problem is in the light that's off. If you pop out one of the lights (dead easy - lever carefully or push from the back) they have a permanent live, a permanent ground and a ground that's made by the door switches. There is a cheesy switch that selects "nothing", "perm. ground" or "door ground". The contacts (bent metal) could be dirty or the bulb holder might be suspect.

and nearly always part of my dash does not light up (part near heater controls). This dash light can be made to light up with a "gentle" tap in that area!

Loose dash bulb?

The cigarette light also doesn't work. The lighter itself? This is off the "cigar" fuse and ISTR the audio is also off this fuse. I'm told that by plugging a lighter adapter into this hold you can hoick out the lighter. Then check for +12/Gnd at the back to see if it's wiring or the lighter.

Once I was driving and suddenly nothing electrical worked at all (heater, windows). I pulled over and after I switched off the engine and restarted it, the problem vanished. It hasn't reoccured.

This is usually a bad ignition switch. Avoid a heavy bunch of keys. (12/99)