Blinker bulb issue

[RossoRacer]

One of the front blinker bulbs went out in my Suburban K2500....specifically 1998 if that matters. It appears as if I need a 3057 or maybe 3157 bulb, and that most if not all of both are made in China. Does anybody know of a brand that makes them here in the land of the "freedom fraction"? We got to the moon first, surely we can make a simple light bulb here?

 

[GoToGuy]

Wagner, GE, Sylvania, Osram, Phillips ? They maybe moving production offshore to concentrate on more current tech, and LED future stuff.

 

[RossoRacer]

Sylvania makes their headlights such as the Xtravision here, which I plan on buying some of those when needed, but the blinker bulbs I found from them were all made in China. Same with Phillips, I think, but haven't seen them on the shelf lately.

 

[df2x4]

Personally when it comes to front turn signal bulbs in these trucks, I'd be more concerned about the amber coloring than the country of origin. Typical 2357As have a painted or dipped coating on the glass that will flake and wear off over time, making a mess inside your housings. 2357NAs (natural amber) have color in the glass itself and will not flake. I'm running Philips 2357NAs from RockAuto, they're made in China unfortunately but I've been running them in both of my '97s for over a year now and haven't lost one yet.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=6318939&cc=0&pt=13675

RockAuto also has 2357NAs from Hella and Wagner, you might shoot them an email and ask about the country of origin on those.

Hella:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4825962&cc=0&pt=13675

Wagner:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=319085&cc=0&pt=13675

I'd stay away from bulbs with the "LL" (Long Life) suffix as they tend to be a little dimmer than standard bulbs.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Personally when it comes to front turn signal bulbs in these trucks, I'd be more concerned about the amber coloring than the country of origin. Typical 3157As have a painted or dipped coating on the glass that will flake and wear off over time, making a mess inside your housings. 3157NAs (natural amber) have color in the glass itself and will not flake. I'm running Philips 3157NAs from RockAuto, they're made in China unfortunately but I've been running them in both of my '97s for over a year now and haven't lost one yet.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=6319014&cc=0&pt=13675

RockAuto also has 3157NAs from Hella and Wagner, you might shoot them an email and ask about the country of origin on those.

Hella:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4818840&cc=0&pt=13663

Wagner:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=319098&cc=0&pt=13675

I'd stay away from bulbs with the "LL" (Long Life) suffix as they tend to be a little dimmer than standard bulbs.

Those painted bulbs have been a thing since the 80s at least! We had them at our parts store for people who didn't want to pay for anything better. I actually took some plain 1157s and used Tamiya translucent orange and amber paint on them. Stank awhile but the paint stayed once it got cooked on; I used some of them in our square body trucks and Burbs.

 

[df2x4]

Just realized I was posting the wrong parts, sorry! OP mentioned 3157s so I had those on the brain. 2357NA is actually what you need for the front turn signals/parking lights, I updated the post above.

Also in the interest of auto parts OCD...

According to the Nemiga diagrams the original GM part number for the 2357NA parking light bulbs that these trucks came with from the factory is 09441838 (or ACDelco L2357NA). I found a listing for some NOS on eBay, and they're marked "Made In Brazil." Not sure who was actually making them for ACDelco at that time, but I'd say chances are good that these trucks didn't have any "Made in USA" bulbs installed even when they were brand new.

www.ebay.com/itm/315269649985

 

[RossoRacer]

Well, Brazil is better than China as far as I'm concerned. Are the 2357's just the corner bulbs? I need the bulb for the dual marker/headlight assembly on a composite headlight setup.

 

[df2x4]

Well, Brazil is better than China as far as I'm concerned. Are the 2357's just the corner bulbs? I need the bulb for the dual marker/headlight assembly on a composite headlight setup.

Nope, the 2357NAs are what you want for the parking light assemblies. The corner markers are 194s.

 

[RossoRacer]

Well, since the ACDelco bulbs are made in Brazil(which isn't 'Merica, but at least it isn't China) and I need a bulb sooner than later, I bought two of those from the local "stealership" this morning.

 

[GoToGuy]

I put LEDs in the front turn signal position.