Front turn signal bulbs - 2357A

JimDantin · 06-02-2009, 02:09 PM

The 451 USA manual lists the front turn signal lamp as a PY 21 W.

If you look up that bulb, it is a single contact amber bulb with an odd pin arrangement -- looking at the bulb from the bottom, the pins are not 180 degrees apart.

I have a burned out bulb, so I went in search of a replacement. I pulled the bad bulb and it's NOT a PY 21 W! Instead, it's marked as a 2357ALF. Looking up that number, I couldn't find it, but I did find specs for a 2357A which matches the dimensions and pin arrangement on the bulb. WTF?

I checked both of our Smarts -- 2008 Passion Coupe and 2009 Cabrio and they are the same. Looks like the USA spec cars have different bulbs - the bulb socket is also marked 2357. Without pulling out every other bulb, anyone know what other bulbs are different than the manual says?

Padawan · 06-02-2009, 02:59 PM

You're correct - the manual is wrong.

For some reason, smart chose to use a dual-filament bulb in this application, but only utilise the "high" filament. A single filament such as the PY21W would have been more appropriate, but won't fit in the bulb holder.

The replacement you need is the 2357A. In a pinch, you can also substitute the more commonly available 1157NA.

SmartDigger · 06-02-2009, 07:32 PM

or a p21/5w from phillips

Padawan · 06-02-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmartDigger

or a p21/5w from phillips

I've never seen one of those in amber.

SmartDigger · 06-02-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padawan

I've never seen one of those in amber.

It might be for the rear only

The Rigger · 06-02-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimDantin

I have a burned out bulb, so I went in search of a replacement. I pulled the bad bulb and it's NOT a PY 21 W! Instead, it's marked as a 2357ALF. Looking up that number, I couldn't find it, but I did find specs for a 2357A which matches the dimensions and pin arrangement on the bulb. WTF?

The 2357 or 1157 signal filament (i.e. the bright one, not the dim running light filament) is the same specification with respect to candlepower as the european PY21W single-filament indicator lamp. The only difference is that XX57 lamps are commonly available in the US, whereas the PY21W is not, so Smart apparently retooled the lamp bases for the XX57 lamps.

This, IMHO, is a Good Thing... Imagine having to send to your dealer (or worse, all the way to Smartville) every time you popped a turn indicator lamp.

JimDantin · 06-03-2009, 04:20 AM

Rigger --- I agree totally! It doesn't make sense to have oddball bulbs in a US vehicle when there are readily available standards. It just seems odd that Smart issued an updated 2008 manual but missed something so simple. My posting was mainly intended to save everyone some frustration when they went looking for a replacement bulb.