under the dash...

vwfye · Post by **vwfye** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:30 pm

there is a little dim light that is mounted. it is just pointing out toward the cabin in general? what is this for? it can't be more than 2watts

albert · Post by **albert** » Mon May 09, 2005 2:33 pm

allo, this light is for to see your shifter , the connection for this light is on the dash light and dimer , if you instal 10 watts by,expl. your dimer can burn , for more light inside , take power on parking light wire, ,albert

vwfye · Post by **vwfye** » Mon May 09, 2005 2:44 pm

thanks albert... it just seems odd to be there since the shifter display lights up too.

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Mon May 09, 2005 4:33 pm

Actually, it's for the heater control levers between the seats. You should be able to move the lens to get the light to shine on the ends of the levers.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Mon May 09, 2005 5:52 pm

Those lights are ultra cool. They use a 2 watt...or slightly higher bulb. They only came in "some" stype 3's...and all type 4's. they are for illuminating the heater levers...but also are good for seeing the shifter on a four speed. Ray

vwbill · Post by **vwbill** » Tue May 10, 2005 12:18 am

Is that the little black cased one that kinda mounted to the support rail?
They really did think of alot of cool stuff on the 411/412's! Way ahead of the curve! bill

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Tue May 10, 2005 10:04 am

Who was it that said the Type 4 was simultaneously one of the most advanced and antiquated cars for its time?

Chris Hobbs · Post by **Chris Hobbs** » Tue May 10, 2005 11:21 am

My 1979 Beetle has one as well (different shape of base, however, so it will aim correctly from the Beetle firewall). Be careful if you ever have to change the bulb, the base is made of a fragile rubber-like compound and slides down into a hole in the firewall. If you don't know the secret of removing it carefully, you rip the prongs right off the base like pronto! BTDT.

One of my fellow VW hobbyists once told me that the reason for the under-dash spotlight was some new federal regulation in the early 70s that mandated that certain cabin controls, like the heater, had to be "illuminated" at night. Cheapskate VWAG's solution was this marginally effective spotlight. Don't know if the story is true or not, but it sounds like something that the Gummint might do.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Tue May 10, 2005 3:09 pm

What makes that spotlight actually work...is to upgrade the wattage of the bulb. I think most had under a 2 watt bulb from the factory. Like 1.8 maybe? I upgraded to a 2.2 watt bulb. It actually works well. Ray

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under the dash...

under the dash...

under the dash

IS that the mini pivoting light thing?