Dash board switches - illumination?

[Yozza]

Hello Folks,
This may seem a slightly dull question, but should the switches (head lights, rear screen heater, hazard, fog, etc.) be illuminated when the head lights are switch on? If so, where can you buy replacement bulbs? I know the heater panel should be illuminated (I've seen the bulb).
Thanks,
Yozza

[Llamapup]

This may seem like a boring reply to a dull question, but have you tried using the rotary dimmer swtich to turn up the brightness of the lights?

[VWCamperfan]

Nope, they don't illuminate... You just have to feel your way around to get the right one!

[Cruz]

Hello Folks,
I know the heater panel should be illuminated (I've seen the bulb).
Thanks,
Yozza

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... lumination" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DanO]

I've got a similar problem but not had the time to investigate yet. The LED's for the headlights etc seem to work but the lights behind the dash don't come on and yes the dimmer doesn't make any difference.........need to hit the door light to see what speed I'm going.

thanks for the link, like the idea of the light warning, I didn't think it was possible to do but it's surprisingly easy!!

[oldiguana]

i had same prob a while ago owduck,n marn was a bad earth on the back of the clocks..........where abouts in stoke are you n what van should the missus be lookin out for...................big up the stoke crew!!!!!

[Bowton Lad]

Nope, they don't illuminate... You just have to feel your way around to get the right one!

The fog light has a small light on the end of the switch. This is a legal requirement & if it's not working would result in an MOT failure.

[VWCamperfan]

should the switches (head lights, rear screen heater, hazard, fog, etc.) be illuminated when the head lights are switch on?

No one has read this properly yet apart from me by the looks of things, which is why I gave the reply I did. The switches do not illuminate when the lights are switched on, there are no lamps behind the switches for this function.

[Bowton Lad]

should the switches (head lights, rear screen heater, hazard, fog, etc.) be illuminated when the head lights are switch on?

No one has read this properly yet apart from me by the looks of things, which is why I gave the reply I did. The switches do not illuminate when the lights are switched on, there are no lamps behind the switches for this function.

Botheration! You are correct Mark, the fog light switch only illuminates when it is in the ''on'' position.

[Syncro G]

The heater controls, heated rear screen (if fitted) had hazzard light switches are the only ones that are eluminated by the dash lights as standard. The hazzard light switch is done by the same bulb as makes if bright red when on, I think they got the resistor on the back of the switch wrong as it doesn't make the bulb glow by a visable emount (well on mine it didn't. Fit a 220ohm resistor instead and it will, standard is 330ohm I think). Heated screen and fog lamp both have warning light telltails in them when fully on. The heated screen switch has 2 bulbs internally and are not replaceable, the others have 1 bulb which is.

Headlights, you can make them iluminated really easilly. Pull the rocker off the front of the switch and replace it with one from a mk2 Scirocco/Polo or some LTs, remove green lens from behind rocker first if you want it white not green. Next get yourself a bulb with plastic base identical to the one for the heater controls - it'll fit nicely into the wireing plug behind the light switch, as if it was designed for it (which it is, you could rob one from where you got the rocker but they tend to break when old and desturbed). Wire one side to X terminal on switch, wire the other to earth. Your headlamp switch will now light whenever the key is on, just like it does on any other VW model, so you can find it in the dark and it can glow dimly at you on those dark late night drives giving you a sad sence of satisfaction.

As for the foglamp, I'm working on that one, it'll need a hybrid switch making. Again you'll need a rocker with iluminated picture instead of painted. Scircocco ones are good but polo ones are upsidown for these 3 switches!

[Yozza]

Thanks for all the responses. I asked the question initially because I wasn't sure if the rear windscreen heater switch was illuminated (I thought it may of been lit by something within the dash panel or the orange led was shining within the switch).

Glen, thanks for the info regarding the light 'mods'.

[Jon Bisson GSY]

Hi,
I'm having the same problem with my dash lights. All the headlights, rears, reverse, brake etc.. work fine, the central leds are working (but very dim), the fuses are fine, the door light works, but the dash illumination lights don't work (haven't worked since I bought here) The bulbs look OK.
Not sure if there is a link but the heating fan switch was unplugged and not working when I got her. Does it share any wiring with the dash illumination? The horn also has a dodgy earth, any link?
I was going to go down the route of getting new bulbs and a new fan switch, any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Jon

1985 T25