"Terrence" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 1998 Jetta GL that the interior instrument and dash lights will
>not illuminate or turn on. However, I do have exterior head lights / tail
>lights / turn signals / hazards as well as the overhead reading lights.
>
> Turn signal/ hazards / high beam indicator works on the instrument
> cluster, other wise, its all dark. All fuses seem intact with no to a
> blown state. In chatting with a VW service guy, he speculated that the
> dimmer roll switch - "rheostat" near the headlight switch might be broke.
> The factory replacement for this is about 120.00 dollars plus a shop
> labor of 89.00 / hour. If anyone has had this part replaced, I would
> appreciate you sharing your experiences. Thanks in advance for the
> replies.

If you do end up needing a new switch, do it yourself...really! You can
save the labor (it does not take an hour to relplace this item).

This is what you want:
http://www.parts4vws.com/catalog/pro...ber=1H6998531E

This one is actually better than your existing switch b/c it has a parking
lamp setting as well as settings for front and rear foglamps. You probably
don't have them (fogs) now but you can add them later with this switch if
you want to. And you also get a parking lamp setting too.

Anyway, if you look at the new switch, you'll see a spring loaded tab on the
left side and on the top. All you need to do is gently pry those same tabs
on your current switch (usually w/something long and thin/flat like a butter
knife), gently pull it out, unclip the wiring connector from the back, and
then installation of the new switch is the reverse of removal. However,
test the lighting before you clip the new one fully into the dash (just to
make sure). But that's it! It's an easy replacement.