rear taillight bulb

[ziddey]

Anyone know where I can find this bulb? I went to autozone and they said to check the junkyard since no one makes them anymore.

The bulbs are fine sometimes but a lot of the time, the left one will go dim for some reason.


Modified by ziddey at 9:24 PM 7-3-2006

[BlackFoxer]

Which bulb are you talking about?

Modified by BlackFoxer at 8:44 PM 2-3-2007

[88vwFox]

LOL at blackfoxer... thats to funny

[VWestlife]

Here are the bulbs used by the Fox, and most other VWs... all should be available at any good auto parts store. Two codes are listed for each -- the first (four digits) is the American code, and the second (letters and numbers) is the European code. Both codes refer to the same bulb type -- at an auto parts store you'll find them on the shelf arranged by the American codes, but if you look at the packaging of the bulbs themselves it will also list the European code.

Front side marker (Fox I only): 2821, W3W
Front turn signal/parking light (dual-filament): 7528, P21/5W
Rear turn signal: 7506, P21W
Rear backup light: 7506, P21W
Rear brake light/taillight (dual-filament): 7528, P21/5W
Rear center brake light: 2825, W5W
Rear license plate light: 3893, T4W
Rear side marker: 2821, W3W

I'm not sure if T4W is correct for the license plate bulbs. Most other VWs I've seen, including Mk2 Golfs/Jettas, use W3W or W5W. (W3W and W5W are exactly interchangable, except that W5W is slightly brighter -- if you want to make your side markers a bit brighter, just install W5W bulbs.)

Note: Avoid American bulbs with copper bases, such as 1156 or 1157. These will appear to work okay, but they were designed for different voltages and amperages and have been known to melt taillight lenses on VWs! They also don't last as long. So although they cost more and are harder to find, go for European bulbs (with silver-colored nickel plated bases) only. These bulbs are very high quality -- you can often find a 20-year-old Volkswagen still using its original signal bulbs, because these European bulbs last so long before burning out!



Modified by VWestlife at 1:51 PM 6-24-2006

[ziddey]

hmm, that's good information. guess i should check out the dealership then. i'm currently using 2057's in the front, which draw even more power than the 1157's. ****. i just bought 1157s though since i was told that's what was right, and since that's what the car came with. it shouldn't be too bad to use 1157's in the front though right?

but i guess i'll check the dealer for the rear tails.

Thanks! It was a GREAT post

[BlackFoxer]

Fox I and Fox II taillight share the exact same bulb.

[jackfrost1031]

Quote, originally posted by VWestlife »

Here are the bulbs used by the Fox, and most other VWs... all should be available at any good auto parts store. Two codes are listed for each -- the first (four digits) is the American code, and the second (letters and numbers) is the European code. Front side marker (Fox I only): 2821, W3W Front turn signal/parking light (dual-filament): 7528, P21/5W Rear turn signal: 7506, P21W Rear backup light: 7506, P21W Rear brake light/taillight (dual-filament): 7528, P21/5W Rear center brake light: 2825, W5W Rear license plate light: 3893, T4W Rear side marker: 2821, W3W I'm not sure if the Fox II uses combined brake/taillights (like the Fox I) or separate bulbs for each. If they're separate, here are the bulbs: Rear taillight: 5008, R10W Rear brake light: 7506, P21W Note: Avoid American bulbs with copper bases, such as 1156 or 1157. These will appear to work okay, but they were designed for different voltages and amperages and have been known to melt taillight lenses on VWs! They also don't last as long. So although they cost more and are harder to find, go for European bulbs (with silver-colored nickel plated bases) only. These bulbs are very high quality -- you can often find a 20-year-old Volkswagen still using its original signal bulbs, because these European bulbs last so long before burning out!

Is this FAQed? If not, It should be for reference.

[VWestlife]

Quote, originally posted by ziddey »

hmm, that's good information. guess i should check out the dealership then. i'm currently using 2057's in the front, which draw even more power than the 1157's. ****. i just bought 1157s though since i was told that's what was right, and since that's what the car came with. it shouldn't be too bad to use 1157's in the front though right?

For many years, VW actually did specify American bulbs (1157, etc.) in their owner's manuals. And in older VWs, they will fit and work fine. However, they will not be as bright as European bulbs, and they use cheap copper bases which are prone to corrosion. And American bulbs are often slightly larger than European bulbs, which means installing them in a newer VW (where there is less space between the bulb socket and lens) will often result in melted taillight lenses. (One of my coworkers did this in her Mk4 Jetta and that's exactly what happened.)

The only downside is that the correct European bulbs cost more than cheap American bulbs, and they can be harder to find (but still, any good auto parts store should have them in stock). But when I bought a 1980 Audi 5000 two years ago, it still had all the original taillight and signal bulbs! So if you want your bulbs to last for decades, rather than replacing them every few years as they burn out, it's worth paying more.

For lots more information, check out Daniel Stern Lighting. Poke around a bit through the various pages and you'll find tons of useful stuff.

[BillLeBob]

Quote, originally posted by ziddey »

I went to autozone and they said to check the junkyard since no one makes them anymore. .

I love AutoZone! Not on the computer? It dosen't exist! There are no parts avalible except what we sell!

[ziddey]

Wow, so I went to autozone tonight, and they actually stocked 7528's, albeit it was some regular brand and not the LL sylvanias. It cost $4 for a pair.

I went to work for the rears. I found that the bulb that did work well in the past, all of a sudden stopped working. I took that bulb out and it was a 7528. The filaments all look intact so I don't know why it's not working anymore. Put in a new 7528 and it lights up. The old one still looked pristine though. Not one bit of corrosion.

Then, the left side. I found out why the bulb was so dimly lit. I pulled it out and it was a 1157, with extreme corrosion on the base. In fact, it took me about a minute to get the bulb out because of the corrosion and I was using so much force I was afraid of the bulb shattering between my fingers. New bulb lights well.

So I got curious and tested the other bulbs. I found that one of the reverse bulbs is a 1156 and the other is the european model. Euro one worked, but 1156 didn't. Need to try and scour the single filament euro style tomorrow, or maybe resort with the new non-corrosive 1156's that sylvania sells if I can't find them

Then the turn signal lights. They both worked but again it was a mismatch with one side euro and one side american.

And for the front side markers, I'm assuming I'd be looking for a 7528 in yellow? I just got 1157LL's put in and they seem to be fine. Probably not worth the effort to change to anything else.

[ziddey]

I wonder waht the last owner did with the car. Let's see... When I get the car, one of the front turn signals is out. I check the turn signal and the notch to secure it is broken off and it's rigged so it doesn't fall off. OK, order a replacement from ebay for cheap

Then I'm driving and I notice when I brake, my back deck is lit up. I check it and find the center brake assembly has a notch broken as well. Then I'm looking at my taillights today and again, one of them has one of the two notches broken off so it just hangs there. I'm going to go the electrical tape wraparound approach with the two rear ones but what the hell??? It's not that hard to push in a notch and take it off!!!

AGH

[ziddey]

I was looking on dsl and found these:

BULB # Voltage Amperage MSCD Hours Notes
1157 12.8/14 2.1/0.59 32/3 1200/5000
7528 12/12 1.75/0.42 35/3 150/1500 ECE P21/5W
1156 12.8 2.1 32 1200
7506 12 1.75 37 150 ECE P21W

From that it seems 7528 has much shorter life?? Also, it's rated and tested at 12V but I thought because of the alternator, it'd be about 13.8V anyway?

I track my voltage while driving and it varies between 13.6V and 14.6V at different times.


Modified by ziddey at 10:22 PM 7-3-2006

[tylernt]

Yeah I've never had problems finding bulbs, my '88 owners manual specifies Americas bulb numbers.

This thread is very informative, now I know why my cheap Sylvania reverse lights lasted only a few months. Bother.

[VWestlife]

Quote, originally posted by ziddey »

From that it seems 7528 has much shorter life??

As Dan says, "rated hours in ECE (European) and non-ECE bulbs are not directly comparable". The European ratings are probably more conservative/realistic, and therefore are lower than the over-inflated American bulb life ratings.

And as for an amber dual-filament bulb to use in the Fox II's front turn signals/parking lamps, the 2357NA is the best match. If you have a choice, go for ones with a silver-colored (nickel-plated) base, instead of the cheap, corrosion-prone brass base.

[ziddey]

Really? 2357's won't melt anything eh? Probably not worth it to me at this point since I just got new 1157's but it's good to know. Thanks

What about the 1297 bulbs? Anyone hear anything about them? They sound great if it's out


Modified by ziddey at 10:51 AM 7-4-2006

[VWestlife]

Quote, originally posted by ziddey »

Really? 2357's won't melt anything eh? Probably not worth it to me at this point since I just got new 1157's but it's good to know. Thanks

My Passat has the same amber front turn signal/parking lamp bulbs as a Fox II, so I checked what type of bulbs it uses. The bulb housings have printed right on them "24/2.2cp amber 4151", and I have brass-base 1157NA bulbs in there (which came with the car), which are probably the closest you can get to the mythical "4151" bulbs (probably a VW-dealer-only item). However, 2357NA bulbs are slightly brighter, and Dan Stern recommends them, so if there are no clearance issues with the bulb glass getting too close to the plastic lens, I would use them instead.

Quote »

What about the 1297 bulbs? Anyone hear anything about them? They sound great if it's out

I'm not sure if they exist, because the only place I can find any reference to them is on Dan's chart.

[DreadPirateRobert]

This thread confuses me...

I haven't had any problems finding bulbs at all, ever.

[srvfan84]

Yeah, I just stuck bulbs in that were for a GM car that fit and haven't had any trouble with them.

[BlackFoxer]

Quote, originally posted by manboy »

This thread confuses me... I haven't had any problems finding bulbs at all, ever.

Same thing here!