Chevrolet Cavalier Check Engine Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Cavalier check engine light requires bulb size 161 or 168 depending on the specific configuration of the instrument cluster. Data for the light covers 1992 through 1994.

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

Years	Bulb Size
1994	161
1992-1993	168

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 1W.	161
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet Cavalier check engine light uses two different bulb sizes across the 1992-1994 model years: the 161 and the 168, both of which follow ANSI standards recognized in the United States and Canada.
Both the 161 and 168 are T10 miniature wedge bulbs, meaning they share the same physical base type and socket format, which is a small wedge-style fitting without a separate metal base or pins.
Although the 161 and 168 share the T10 wedge base, they are not electrically identical. The 161 operates at 1W, while the 168 operates at 4.9W, representing a significant difference in power draw at the same 12V supply voltage.
The 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier uses the 161 bulb for the check engine indicator, while the 1992-1993 model years use the 168 bulb instead.
Because the wattage differs between the two bulbs, substituting a 168 in place of a 161, or vice versa, carries a risk of mismatched current draw relative to what the circuit was designed to handle for that model year.