Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Rear Turn Signal/Brake Bulb

I have a 1999 SE Sport with the V6. Has anybody else had any problems getting the right bulb for the rear breaklight/turn signal? I went to Walmart and got a 1157. I got back to my house to put it in and it is the wrong bulb. The original bulb has a different number and has a flat connector that plugs in. The new bulbs I bought had a round screw in connector. I cursed Walmart and looked in my owner's manual. It said the same thing, 1157. The instructions for changing the bulb even showed a bulb with a round connector and said that I need to turn it clockwise to tighten it in. Does Ford not know what parts to put into their cars?? I will try to get the number off the original and go back to Wally world and find the right bulb or to the dealership if I have to. Just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. Jonathan

The flat style is probably either a 3157 or a 3357. There is a difference in brightness so you do need to comfirm.

I suspect that this was a mid year change. Try looking up a 2000 Contour. My 98 does use the 1157 bulb.

Thanks Jim. I went to Advance Auto and they had a note in their computer that said it could be a 3157 or an 1157. Mine was the 3157, but it still irks me that Ford was too dumb to put that in the owner's manual. I got 2 new ones, plugged them in and they work fine.