Chevrolet Caprice Automatic Transmission Indicator Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Caprice automatic transmission indicator requires bulb sizes PC161, 168, 1445, 194, and 1895 depending on the specific application. Data for the bulb sizes covers the range from 1966 to 1992.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1992	PC161	PC161	Check Price
1981-1982	168	W5W	Check Price
1972-1973	1445	1445	Check Price
1968-1971	194	W5W	Check Price
1966-1967	1895	1895	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with printed circuit board twist-lock socket, for instrument clusters. 12V.	PC161	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168	Check Price
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament signalling bulb with W2.1x9.5d wedge base. 12V, 5W.	W5W	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 2W.	1445	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1895	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet Caprice automatic transmission indicator uses five distinct bulb types across its model years: PC161, 168, 1445, 194, and 1895, all conforming to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada.
The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified type in these records, covering the Chevrolet Caprice from 1968-1971. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W.
The 1895 bulb, used in the 1966-1967 Caprice, is a T5 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 0.9W. The T5 form factor is physically smaller than the T10, making it incompatible with T10 sockets despite both being wedge-base designs.
The 1445 bulb, specified for 1972-1973, uses a BA9s bayonet base rather than a wedge base. This base type differs structurally from the wedge-style bulbs used in other model years, meaning it requires a dedicated socket and is not interchangeable with T10 or T5 wedge bulbs.
The 168 bulb, listed for 1981-1982, shares the T10 wedge form factor and 12V operating voltage with the 194 bulb but is rated at a higher wattage of 4.9W compared to the 194's 3.78W. Substituting one for the other may affect socket load tolerances.
The PC161, specified for the 1992 Caprice, is a T10 miniature wedge bulb adapted for printed circuit board instrument clusters, using a twist-lock socket. This mounting method is specific to PCB-based cluster designs and is not compatible with conventional bulb sockets used in earlier model years.
The 1895 bulb at 0.9W carries the lowest wattage rating among all bulbs listed, while the 168 at 4.9W carries the highest. This range reflects the varying power requirements of transmission indicator lighting across different generations of the Caprice.
Although the 168 and 194 bulbs share the T10 wedge base and 12V rating, their differing wattage values indicate they are not rated as direct equivalents under ANSI standards, and their interchangeability depends on the electrical tolerances of the specific socket and circuit.