I usually leave my light switch on automatic and when I start the car the instrument panel lights go on. Last week when I backed out of my garage the lights did not go on until I was out of the garage. The next day they didn't go on at all until I played with the light switch and the brightness control. I then turned the light switch to off and the panel lights came on and stayed on.
Now it seems to be working again. What's going on? Should I bring it to the dealer or leave well enough alone, since the dealer won't do anything if he can't see the problem.

2011 g37 premium sedan

 

sounds like your headlights were on auto. So when in the garage, the dash lights came on dim (or possibly not at all if you had it turned all the way down) along with the headlights. Once out of the garage, the light sensor decided there was enough light to turn off the headlights, and then the dash lit up to full daytime brightness.

 

Yes, as I said I always leave my headlight switch on auto. The brightness was not turned all the way down and because the switch was on auto, I never change it. The instrument panel lights always came on in the garage when I start the car. Last week, the lights did not come on until I was out of the garage for a few minutes. The next day, it took even longer for the instrument panel lights to come on. Then as I said in my first post, they would not come on at all until I played with the headlight switch. Something is wrong, but I don't know what it is.