2008 - Power Sockets

[arznajck]

Just picked-up my 2008 SE Beetle. I am hoping someone can help answer some questions....

I had a 2001 some years ago - the ring around the power sockets use to light up.

My new 2008 has the orange plastic ring around the power sockets. But it's not lit when I turn on lights.

Did VW change that in the 08s? Some say its easy to pop these up to check for the 3rd wire that is for the light. However, I would appreciate some insight before I go rip the console up and break it...how do you pop them up?

Thanks!

[boogety boogety]

My '06 NBC's power socket does not light up either. I dimly (no pun intended) remember the '03 lighting up, but I may be thinking of another car in our fleet...

As far as removing it, you do pop them out from the back of whatever surface they're embedded in, so some disassembly is in order if you're that curious... I'm sure as long as you're in there messing around, you can get an earlier lighted socket and trade it out (you might have to McGyver the wiring a bit)...

[digifant_gli]

You are both right....in my 2003 New Beetle, the power outlets light up, and there is a little light under the climate controls that illuminates the cupholder area. On the new New Beetle, Volkswagen deleted both of these items.

However, it is inexpensive to install the light bar that goes under the climate controls. I did it in my Mom's 2008 Convertible. The part numbers are below...essentially all you do is use 2 Scotch Lock tap connectors and splice into the wiring for the other dashboard illumination.

Part Numbers:

Light Bar: 1C0-919-390
Connector: 1H0-973-121-C
Wire Set: 000-979-131-A

As far as the power outlets go, VW changed the wiring harness and deleted the connectors that would have allowed you to plug in illuminated outlets. It's expensive to buy those outlets from the dealer and difficult to wire them up.....but at least you can get the little red light back under the climate controls!