Chevrolet Cavalier License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The 194 bulb is the license plate bulb used in the Chevrolet Cavalier across the majority of model years covered in the specifications, appearing in every listed year except 1992.
• 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 means the 194 bulb is retained by friction rather than a locking bayonet or screw mechanism, which is a common trait of low-wattage license plate and interior lighting applications.
• The 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier uses a bulb size 24 for the license plate position, which differs from every other model year listed in the specifications.
• The bulb size 24 carries a BA9s base, a small single-contact bayonet fitting, and is rated at 12 volts and 2 watts, making it physically and electrically incompatible with the 194 wedge bulb used in surrounding model years.
• Because the 1992 model year uses a BA9s-based bulb while adjacent years use a wedge-base bulb, the two types are not interchangeable despite both operating on a 12-volt system.
• Both the 194 and the 24 conform to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada, indicating standardized electrical and photometric performance within their respective categories.
• The 194 bulb at 3.78 watts draws slightly more power than the 24 bulb at 2 watts, reflecting a difference in luminous output between the two bulb types.
• The specifications cover model years 1982-1994 and 2000-2005, with the 194 bulb designated for all listed years in both of those ranges except 1992.