My instrument panel lights went out and I need the bulbs. How many bulbs do i need? Also the lights where the knobs for the heating/ac are out also is that the same as the instrument panel? I have a 1998 toyota camry

The tail lights work off the headlight switch, and there is a fuse for the tail lights. Make sure the fuse is good, first, a 15 amp (blue) fuse in the instrument panel fuse block. Then, you might have a bad headlight switch.
So you DO have dash lights, they just don't dim from the dimmer switch? In the wiring diagram, there is a green wire from a "tail light relay" (in the "Junction Block-Right Instrument Panel") that carries power to all the exterior lamps, as well as having a splice to the Instrument Panel Cluster (illum. bulbs), and to the lamp dimmer, and to the radio bulb.
To do any further testing, you would need a voltmeter or a test light, so you could chase down this power loss. Good luck.

The center dashboard panel, which holds the climate control system, etc., must be gently pried up. Start at the bottom and work your way around. Once this is loose, disconnect the electrical connectors and the panel can be removed completely. The light bulbs are marked Gray and Black and are freed by a turning slightly. I think the only place you can get the bulbs is a Honda dealer.

the ac/ heater controls is inside ur instrument panel/ u need to remove the instrument panel to give u access to check whats wrong with ur controls and u need set of tools to do that and be careful when removing panel boards as it easily breaks....

Correct. This panel is held on tightly and plastic interior pryors help. One it is started tho it will come off. Some control knobs come off too. The heaterr controller once out then needs to be taken apart carefully to reveal the little bulbs. These are unique bulbs not run of the mill. I don't think they are the same as the dash bulbs.hth

If I remember rightly, on a mark 4 golf, the middle of the three heater control knobs pulls off. The bulb is right in behind it and lights up the whole panel. I would think a Jetta will be the same. give it a try.

First, your instrument panel lights. Make sure to check the knob on the dashboard to the left of the instrument panel which controls
the brightness of the instrument panel lights. Push the knob to get it to pop out. Turn the knob to adjust the brightness.
If that is not the problem, go to your fuse boxes. Check those in the interior fuse box (left kick panel, below the dash--fuse chart on the cover) and those in the engine compartment fuse box (far upper left as you face the car). If, after you replace anything that has blown, it blows again, that would suggest a short somewhere in the system.
If you don't find any blown fuses (and I think you will) then it's time to go to the light bulbs. The tail light bulbs are accessed from inside the trunk. The license plate bulbs are just above the license plate and are accessed by removing two screws that hold the fixture in, then taking off the click plate and removing the bulbs.
Hope this is of some help.

It seems that the bulbs went out or the ribbon cable that runs behind the instrument panel burned out check on a junkyard for a replacement instrument panel and replace it, verify that the truck you pull out the instrument cluster is the same year and the same model.

You need to pull off the knob and get a pair of really thin needle nose pliers in there to extract the bulb.  Match the bulb up at a parts store or the deal and install opposite of removal.

There is a plastic garnish surrounding the instrument cluster held in by 2 philips head screws. remove the screws and gently pry the garnish from top first then sides then it should pull out.

Then remove the 3 screws holding the cluster in place (2 bottom 1 top). Once that is done gently flip the cluster bottom up and pull out some to expose the wiring harness. Remove the 3 connectors from the back and then the cluster will pull out.

There are 3 bulbs that control the overall lighting of the cluster. They are spaced about every third across the rear of the cluster. They are the larger Green knobs. Remove the 3 large green knobs and replace the bulbs with the appropriate size. You can call your local parts store to find out the size.

Its a 5 minute job and does not require the entire removal of the dash board.

-ASE Master Tech
-Lexus Senior Tech
99 Corolla Owner.

Replace the bulb. It's very small behind the fan switch knob. Pull off the knob and pull the bulb straight out to replace.