Nissan 280Z front turn signal requires a 1157 bulb size while the rear turn signal uses a 1156 bulb size. The replacement chart covers 1975 through 1978 model years 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 Nissan 280Z uses the 1157 bulb for the front turn signal across all documented model years, spanning 1975-1978.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb rated at 12V with a 21W/5W output, meaning it operates one filament at 21W for signaling and a second at 5W for a secondary function such as parking or running light duty.
The 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which features two offset pins at different heights to prevent incorrect insertion of a single-filament bulb into a dual-filament socket.
The rear turn signal on the Nissan 280Z uses the 1156 bulb across the same 1975-1978 model year range.
The 1156 is a single-filament bulb rated at 12V and 21W, sharing the same wattage as the high-power filament of the 1157 but without a secondary filament.
The 1156 uses a BA15s bayonet base, which has two pins at equal heights. This base is not interchangeable with the BAY15d base used by the 1157, as the pin geometry differs between the two standards.
Both the 1157 and 1156 are ANSI-standardized bulbs recognized in the United States and Canada, meaning they conform to defined electrical and physical specifications within those markets.
Although the 1157 and 1156 share a similar physical profile and the same 21W signal filament output, substituting one for the other is not possible due to the incompatible base designs and differing filament configurations.