Chevrolet Corvette Seat Belt Warning Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The seat belt warning bulb specifications for the Chevrolet Corvette span model years 1973-1996, with four distinct bulb sizes used across that period: 161, 74, 194, and 168.
• The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified size, covering the Corvette across 1979-1986, 1988-1989, and 1982, making it the dominant fitment across this application. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W under the ANSI standard.
• The 161 bulb, used in the 1990 and 1995-1996 Corvette, is also a T10 miniature wedge type operating at 12V but draws only 1W, making it a lower-wattage alternative within the same T10 form factor as the 194.
• Although the 161 and 194 bulbs share the T10 wedge base, their wattage ratings differ significantly (1W versus 3.78W), which means they are not interchangeable despite the physical similarity in base type.
• The 74 bulb, specified for the 1991-1992 Corvette, is a T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 1.4W. The T5 form factor is physically smaller than the T10, making it incompatible with sockets designed for T10 bulbs.
• The 168 bulb, used in the 1978 Corvette, is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, giving it the highest wattage of all four bulb types listed in these specifications.
• The 1895 bulb, specified for the 1973 Corvette, is a T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 0.9W, the lowest wattage among all bulb types in these specifications. Its T5 base places it in the same physical category as the 74 bulb, though the two differ in wattage output.
• All five bulb types listed conform to the ANSI standard applicable in both the United States and Canada, indicating a shared North American specification framework across all model years covered.
• The shift from T10 (194) to T5 (74) fitment between the 1989 and 1991-1992 Corvette represents a socket-level change, meaning parts sourced for one configuration are physically incompatible with the other.
• The return to a T10 bulb (161) for the 1995-1996 Corvette after the T5 (74) fitment of 1991-1992 indicates that the socket specification changed again between those production periods.