The Nissan 300ZX brake light requires a bulb size of 1157 for proper operation and visibility. Available data covers the specific range of years from 1984 through 1996.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Nissan 300ZX uses the 1157 bulb for its brake lights across the full 1984-1996 model range. This bulb is a dual-filament type with a BAY15d bayonet base, rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and a 5W low filament, which allows it to serve both brake and tail light functions within a single unit.
The BAY15d base on the 1157 features two offset pins at different heights, a design that prevents incorrect insertion and ensures the dual filaments are aligned to their correct circuits.
The center high mount stop light (CHMSL) on the Nissan 300ZX uses either the 1156 or 912 bulb depending on the model year, meaning the CHMSL position is not served by a single universal bulb across the full production run.
The 1156 bulb is specified for the CHMSL in the 1984-1991 and 1993-1996 model years, with the exception of 1990 and 1992. It is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 21W.
The BA15s base on the 1156 uses a single pin, distinguishing it from the dual-pin BAY15d base of the 1157. These two bases are not interchangeable despite their physical similarity.
The 912 bulb is specified for the CHMSL in the 1990 and 1992 model years. It is a wedge-type bulb in the T15 form factor, rated at 12V and 12W, and is a variant of the 921 bulb.
The 912 wedge bulb operates at 12W, which is notably lower than the 21W output of the 1156. Both are single-filament designs, but their bases are physically incompatible, as the 912 uses a wedge mount rather than a bayonet fitting.
Because the CHMSL specification alternates between the 1156 and 912 across certain model years, year-specific confirmation is necessary before a replacement bulb is selected for that position.
All three bulb types specified across these positions conform to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada, indicating standardized electrical and photometric performance within those markets.
The 1157 and 1156 share the same 12V, 21W operating characteristics for their primary filaments, but the 1157 carries an additional 5W filament. Substituting one for the other is not possible due to the difference in base design and filament configuration.