Update:
it was the switch! took it off and tried to clean some stuff. no dice. there were some loose ball bearings in there too and i had no idea where they actually went.
Found a replacement! who would have thought the only place i could buy one was autozone?! https://www.autozone.com/electrical-...250/233360_0_0
beware: the first time they sent it it was deff the wrong part and i was convinced it wouldn't work cuz it seems like an old link with shady photos. but the second one came from a different warehouse and was perfect!
Here are photos cuz photos always make posts better.
gen1 plug style (mines a 86 which seems to be a cusp year?)
here's the diagram i compiled from my manual:
here's it all apart:
here's the new switch fresh out of the box:
and my lights working as they're supposed to!
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