I noticed that last week my speedo lighting had been getting dimmer, then last thurs. it was so dim that i couldnt read my speed or how much fuel etc.
Took out the bulbs and they were old but ok, i changed them anyway, still no light.
my speedo lights are also hooked up to some extra dials under the dash. battery, oil and revs dials. i noticed that the lights on those dials (which
were never hooked up properly in the first place and didnt work) were also going very very dim. I disconnected the 3 dials from the speedo and the
light on the speedo is brighter than ever! Would a blown bulb on any of these 3 dials have caused the gradual dimming of all the lights? didnt look
like any bulbs had blown and they were lighting up fine just the week before, i would have thought a blown bulb would either just make them all not
work, or just the one not work... not a gradual dimming.
also, does anyone know how to hook these 3 extra dials up, as they arent on the wiring diagram for my beetle and im not sure which, if any other
diagram to use, and it would be nice to have them working 
Thanx!!:bounce
Had same problem but then realized that the light switch is also a dimmer.
ie ; pull nob lights on turn nob dims dash lights
Hope your problem is as easy as that.
Cheers Nige:thumb
A dimmer! Thanx nigetype3! my sister must have turned the knob and my dash light must have **magically** started working again! You learn something
new everyday with a beetle! LOLOL!!
that solves that problem, but theres still the problem of hooking up the extra dials. (battery, oil pressure and revs dials) Its a 69 beetle, not sure
what to hook each one up with, hope it is possible to hook them up. Anyone?
Hahaha! 
Glad it was an easy fix for you :thumb
If the battery gauge is for Voltage, it should have one wire to earth and one to the positive battery terminal or somewhere of equal Potential
Difference (eg power supply to the ignition switch) and a wire for the backlight.
The Oil Pressure gauge will probably be earthed through the body and have one wire for the backlight and another to an oil pressure sender. (Assuming
its not a mechanical one)
The Tacho will either be earthed through the body or have a black earth wire. It should have a red wire to the ignition and a signal wire from the
coil (same terminal as the distributor), as well as a wire for the backlighting.
thanx Kruisin):thumb:thumb:thumb