The Mazda RX-3 front and rear turn signal bulbs both utilize a 1157 size bulb for proper operation. This replacement chart covers vehicle production spanning 1972 to 1978 with corresponding bulb specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Mazda RX-3 uses the 1157 bulb for both its front and rear turn signals across all model years covered in these specifications, spanning 1972-1978.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb, meaning it contains two separate filaments within a single glass envelope, allowing it to serve two distinct lighting functions at different wattages.
The 1157 operates on a 12-volt electrical system and draws 21 watts on its high-intensity filament and 5 watts on its low-intensity filament.
The 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which is an offset twin-pin mount. The two pins are positioned at different heights, which prevents the bulb from being inserted in the wrong orientation.
The 1157 conforms to ANSI standards and is recognized in both the United States and Canada, placing it within a widely standardized North American automotive lighting specification.
Because the same bulb type is specified for both the front and rear turn signal positions on the Mazda RX-3, a single replacement bulb is interchangeable between both locations on the vehicle.
The consistent use of the 1157 across all seven model years of the RX-3 means that the bulb specification did not change throughout the vehicle's production run as reflected in these records.