instrument cluster
 

for the connection too the box for the lights and rear window defroster and such. is there just one wire that turns on the dash lights/brake lights/running lights? or is there a combination of wires...if so which ones?

actually nevermind what i said up above. heres another question. so the white wire with the green line on it i know is the power wire for the connector, but for the second time now it has melted the contact points and the plastic and all of my dash lights and cruise lights shut off. what have u guys done too fix this problem?

Your light switch has either: corrosion on the bulbs, bad solder joint at the connector on the light switch, or you are overloading the parking light circuit with other lights or accessories. You need to have the light switch remanufactured and get a new short harness from the switch to the dash harness.