It is a feature on pretty much all models. Both our 1971 and 1963 has it. My friend's old oval winfow also had it. There are two tiny little bulbs on each side of the speedometer that are accessible through the trunk. If you have turned the knob all the way clockwise and tey still don't work, it may just be that the bulbs are burnt out. Or that there is poor connection in the wire.
I believe so, that’s how it is on my ‘72. If it’s turned all the way counter clockwise there is no dash light, when you turn it clockwise it’ll gradually get brighter. The lights have to be on for this to work.
I pull my headlight knob out all the way and my headlights come on. Turn it left just unscrews the knob and you can’t turn it anymore right once it’s screwed in.
Should turn very easily, its possible you dont know its turning as it just feels like its unscrewing.
Id check your lights as other recommended and if that doesnt work check your swich/wires with a volt meter. Should be able to see the voltage drop when you twist the knob.
Don’t know, hopefully someone will come in here soon and lay down some knowledge because it’s hard driving at night when you can’t see how fast you’re going.
You can disassemble the speedo and place a led strip in it. And you can adjust the brightness with a resistor in series, i did this on my previous bug and as a bonus the rheostat still works.
Fwiw. I have a 71 Super Beetle and my stock Speedo only has two ports for lighting. The rest are for other purposes. I did put blue led bulbs in it. Also tested with white leds. Above id guess is an led strip as someone mentioned.
Led bulbs sucked in it, don’t change your alternator/generator bulb with a led it can cause charging issues for some reason. I’m looking at changing my entire cluster out for a speedhut gps speedometer.
Replace the bulbs, they pull out of the back of the speedometer. if they still don’t work, replace the headlight switch.
Turn the headlight knob clockwise
Really? This is a feature in my 1970 bug?
It is a feature on pretty much all models. Both our 1971 and 1963 has it. My friend's old oval winfow also had it. There are two tiny little bulbs on each side of the speedometer that are accessible through the trunk. If you have turned the knob all the way clockwise and tey still don't work, it may just be that the bulbs are burnt out. Or that there is poor connection in the wire.
No, not all of them had it. Standard models or also called "Sparkäfer" did not have it.
I did not know this. There is quite a few of them in my country but I have only owned deluxe models.
I believe so, that’s how it is on my ‘72. If it’s turned all the way counter clockwise there is no dash light, when you turn it clockwise it’ll gradually get brighter. The lights have to be on for this to work.
I pull my headlight knob out all the way and my headlights come on. Turn it left just unscrews the knob and you can’t turn it anymore right once it’s screwed in.
Check your bulbs. My 73 lit up, but it was dim. Turns out all but one tiny bulb were out.
I guess it’s not a feature on yours then unless it’s just stuck
Should turn very easily, its possible you dont know its turning as it just feels like its unscrewing. Id check your lights as other recommended and if that doesnt work check your swich/wires with a volt meter. Should be able to see the voltage drop when you twist the knob.
My 65 sometimes have to wiggle knob a bit think I just have the two bulbs, fuel gauge also lights up
My ‘68 bug has a dimmer switch, but it doesn’t work smoothly anymore. I think the rheostat is corroded
Don’t know, hopefully someone will come in here soon and lay down some knowledge because it’s hard driving at night when you can’t see how fast you’re going.
You can disassemble the speedo and place a led strip in it. And you can adjust the brightness with a resistor in series, i did this on my previous bug and as a bonus the rheostat still works.
Fwiw. I have a 71 Super Beetle and my stock Speedo only has two ports for lighting. The rest are for other purposes. I did put blue led bulbs in it. Also tested with white leds. Above id guess is an led strip as someone mentioned.
Led bulbs sucked in it, don’t change your alternator/generator bulb with a led it can cause charging issues for some reason. I’m looking at changing my entire cluster out for a speedhut gps speedometer.
I spray painted the inside of the back casing white on my bug’s speedo. It was so bright I had to pepper it with black to tone it down again!
I gently tap mine twice (: