The Buick Century side marker requires a 194 bulb size for proper illumination and replacement. Available data covers the production range from 1997 through 2005 for the specified component.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Buick Century uses the 194 bulb for both front and rear side marker positions across all model years listed in the specifications, from 1973 through 2005.
The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12 volts and 3.78 watts, conforming to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The T10 wedge base design requires no separate bulb holder or locking mechanism, as the base itself acts as the retention point within the socket.
Two front side marker years, 1978 and 1980, carry the designation 194NA rather than the standard 194. The rear side marker positions for those same years list the standard 194.
The 194NA shares the same T10 wedge form factor, voltage, and wattage as the 194, but its glass envelope is tinted natural amber at the factory rather than clear.
Because the 194NA produces an amber output through glass tinting rather than a colored lens, substituting a clear 194 in a socket originally specified for 194NA may alter the emitted light color at the front side marker position on the 1978 and 1980 Buick Century.
The consistent use of the 194 across both front and rear positions throughout the model range means a single bulb type serves all side marker sockets in most model years covered by the specifications.