The Nissan 240SX brake light utilizes a specific 1157 bulb size for illumination across all listed vehicle versions. Data for the specified component covers the period from 1989 through 1998.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Nissan 240SX uses the 1157 bulb for its brake lights across the entire 1989-1998 model range. This bulb is an ANSI-standard dual-filament type rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and a 5W low filament, mounted on a BAY15d bayonet base.
The dual-filament design of the 1157 allows a single bulb to serve two functions within the same housing, with the higher-wattage filament activating under braking and the lower-wattage filament serving as a running light.
The center high mount stop light (CHMSL) on the 240SX uses one of two different bulb types depending on the model year, making direct substitution between earlier and later units incompatible without confirming the specific year.
The 1989-1993 240SX uses the 1156 bulb in the CHMSL. This is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 21W.
The 1156 and 1157 share the same 21W primary filament output and a visually similar bayonet base, but their bases are not interchangeable. The 1157 uses a BAY15d base with two offset pins, while the 1156 uses a BA15s base with a single contact pin.
The 1990-1994 240SX CHMSL also uses the 1156, extending that fitment through a five-year span from 1989-1994 before the specification changes.
The 1995-1998 240SX transitions to the 168 bulb for the CHMSL. The 168 is a miniature wedge-style bulb in a T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W, which represents a significant reduction in wattage compared to the 1156 it replaces.
The wedge base of the 168 bulb is physically and electrically distinct from the bayonet bases used by the 1156 and 1157, meaning the CHMSL housings for 1995-1998 models are not directly compatible with those from 1989-1994 models.
All three bulb types specified for the 240SX, the 1157, 168, and 1156, conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada.
The 1157 remains the sole brake light bulb specification for the standard brake position across all ten model years of the 240SX, while the CHMSL position accounts for the only variation in bulb type across the vehicle's production run.