Chevrolet Chevette Instrument Panel Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Chevette instrument panel utilizes bulb sizes 161, 168, and 194 to provide illumination for the internal gauges and dashboard components. Available data for the specified lighting components covers the production range from 1976 through 1987.

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
1985-1987	194
1984	168
1982-1983	161
1980-1981	194
1979	161
1976-1978	194

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 1W.	161

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The instrument panel bulb specifications for the Chevrolet Chevette span the 1976-1987 model years, with three distinct bulb sizes appearing across that range: 194, 168, and 161.
The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified type, appearing in the 1976-1981, 1985-1987 model years. It is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W.
The 161 bulb is specified for the 1979, 1982-1983 model years. It shares the same T10 miniature wedge base and 12V operating voltage as the 194, but draws only 1W, making it the lowest-wattage bulb in this specification set.
The 168 bulb appears exclusively in the 1984 model year. Also a T10 miniature wedge type operating at 12V, it carries a 4.9W rating, the highest wattage among the three bulb types listed.
All three bulb types, the 194, 168, and 161, conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada, and all share the T10 miniature wedge base form factor.
Although the 194, 168, and 161 bulbs share the same T10 wedge base, their wattage ratings differ significantly (1W, 3.78W, and 4.9W respectively), meaning they are not interchangeable without accounting for the electrical load differences between them.
The 1984 Chevrolet Chevette is the only model year in this specification set to use the 168 bulb, which at 4.9W draws notably more power than the 194 bulb used in surrounding years.
The shift from the 194 bulb in 1980-1981 to the 161 bulb in 1982-1983, and then to the 168 bulb in 1984, reflects three consecutive model years each specifying a different bulb size for the instrument panel.