The Mazda 626 brake light utilizes 7443, 2057, 1157, P21W, and 1156 bulb sizes depending on the specific vehicle configuration. Available data for the lighting components spans a range from 1979 through 2002.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 1157 bulb is the most frequently specified brake bulb for the Mazda 626, covering model years 1979 and 1983-2000, making it the dominant fitment across the vehicle's production span.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base rated at 12V and 21W/5W, where the higher wattage filament serves the brake function and the lower wattage filament serves a secondary lighting function such as tail or parking.
The 7443 is a dual-filament wedge bulb in the T20 form factor rated at 12V and 21W/5W, and it replaced the bayonet-base 1157 as the brake bulb for the 2000-2002 model years. The T20 wedge base is physically incompatible with the BAY15d socket used by the 1157, so the two types are not interchangeable.
The 2057 shares the BAY15d bayonet base with the 1157 but draws more power at 26.9W on its primary filament versus 21W, making it a higher-output variant. It was specified for the 1998-1999 model years.
Because the 2057 and 1157 share the same BAY15d base, physical installation is possible across those socket types, but the differing wattage ratings mean the two bulbs are not electrically equivalent replacements for one another.
The 1156 is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base rated at 12V and 21W. It was specified for the brake position in the 1980-1982 model years, and it also appears as the Center High Mount Stop Light (CHMSL) fitment for the 1986-1987, 1998-1999, and 2001-2002 model years.
The BA15s base of the 1156 and the BAY15d base of the 1157 are dimensionally similar but mechanically distinct due to the offset pin arrangement on the BAY15d. The two types are not interchangeable despite their visual resemblance.
The 921 is a single-filament wedge bulb in the T15 form factor rated at 12V and 16W. It was the specified CHMSL fitment for the 1988-1996 model years. Its wedge base makes it incompatible with the BA15s socket used by the 1156 and 3497.
The 3497 is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s base rated at 12V and 21W, and it is listed as a variant of the 1156. It was specified exclusively for the CHMSL position on the 2000 model year.
Across the CHMSL positions, four distinct bulb types appear: the 921, 1156, 3497, and 1156 again in non-consecutive years, indicating that socket compatibility cannot be assumed between adjacent model years without confirming the specific bulb type for each year.