if your stock instrument light sockets are damaged or blown out......
you can find some small socket..........like say the ones in the rear side
marker lights......
drill some holes. or whatever, and arrange your own custom instrument
lights.
Just run wires from the light switch, or another good place.
For some reason, I like to wire the instrument lighting ( I like red light
in an o.p guage ) in oil pressure gauges to 'igntion on' voltage, so ithe
guage light  on any time the engine is runing.   Just get the right kind of
voltage from a proper place and rig something decent in there, even if home
made a bit.

----- Original Message -----
From: "neil N" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: how to remove an instrument panel bulb

> On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:30 PM, dj <djct2@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Can someone tell how to remove an instrument panel bulb? The one for the
>> speedometer on my 84 Vanagon is not working and I want to take it out to
>> look at it. I have tried pulling and turning the small plastic housing
>> around it but no luck. Thanks, deek
>>
>
>
> This reminds me of my first trip in my Westy. Coming home unexpectedly
> at night. I had only having driven it during the day, soon to discover
> it had no speedo light.
>
> Likely goes without saying, but be careful with the white plastic bit
> when removing the bulb with whatever tool you choose. Plastic *might*
> be brittle. Although a different part, I have no idiot light
> backlighting because of failed instrument cluster plastic. (no support
> for bulb holder against the blue ribbon circuit "board")
>
> Neil.
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines