How to change the heater control panel light bulb?

Your panel lights will come on when you turn your lights on. So if your dash lights come on, then the panel light should be. Remove the panel and change the bulb.

There are bulbs in the control panel that may have burned out, or the wiring connector could be faulty.

Well there should be small light bulbs in the panel. You may have to take the panel out and then take it apart to get to the bulbs.
I would check with the dealer to see if they list the bulbs as being available separately.

The control panel for the heater and A/C must be removed. Suggest you get Chilton's manual from the library. It will take you through step by step with pictures. To summarize: 1) Remove trim panel covering radio and heater controls. 2) Remove radio. 3) Disconnect the two heater control cables from the control panel. The trick to removing the cables is to compress the "claw" spring holding the cable by pressing a screwdriver from the underside of the control panel to release each cable.4) Remove control panel. Take to a workbench. From the backside of the control panel at the top, notice two large holes through which you can access the V2 Toshiba bulb holders. Turn them a quarter turn to remove them and the bulbs. The bulb is a common #74 bulb.

illumination bulb burned out in hreater control panel

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.

Remove the metal part of the ashtray, you will see two screws that hold the ashtray plastic part on, underthis is the screws for the lower panel
You can now carefully lift the whole panel away.

there is a bulb in the heater setting dial,remove the dials you will see the bulb,little ***********to change

Yes, there is illumination behind the heater control panel.

You need to remove the center inst cluster upper (radio) & lower finish (heater) panels to gain access to the heater control; the light socket is behind the heater panel.