1995 VW Jetta

Does the odometer work?

The back lights, would that be the backup lights? There is a switch and wiring on the tranny to tell when the car is in reverse. The wire could have come disconnected or the switch itself could have failed.

Your speedometer and tach problem sounds like an electrical break. When cold it connects and probably stays working but when warm and no current it expands and disconnects. This could be and I believe it will prove to be the speedometer and tack itself. They are separate units or part of the same gauge?

The odometer does work. It's not been failing when the tach goes out. The speedometer and tach are two seperate gauges and they both stop working at the same time.
I do have back-up lights and my brake lights work fine. I just don't have any night lights in the back. I do in the front. The parking lights in front don't seem to be affected. I changed all of the fuses just because one went out about 2 months ago for the radio. (I guess I'm a little overboard!)

Thanks so much for the response. I was told that I needed an instrument cluster that was going to cost about 400 dollars. I'd hate to have to spend that kind of money if it's just a tach and speedometer.

That is the direction I am leaning for but take a look around and on ebay and parts places. You can buy the entire cluster for a reasonable amount.