Chevrolet El Camino Seat Belt Warning Bulb Size

The Chevrolet El Camino seat belt warning light utilizes bulb sizes 168 and 194 for the specific illumination components located within the interior dashboard assembly. Data provided for the specified lighting requirements spans the historical production period from 1971 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
1980-1987	168
1978-1979	194
1976-1977	168
1971-1973	194

Bulb Specifications

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

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet El Camino seat belt warning light uses two bulb types across its model years: the 168 and the 194. Both are ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulbs sharing the T10 form factor and a 12-volt operating voltage.
Although the 168 and 194 share the same T10 wedge base and voltage rating, they are not electrically identical. The 168 operates at 4.9 watts, while the 194 operates at 3.78 watts, reflecting a difference in filament resistance and light output.
The shared T10 wedge base means both bulbs are physically interchangeable in terms of socket fit, but substituting one for the other introduces a wattage mismatch that may affect circuit load and indicator brightness.
The 168 bulb is specified for the El Camino across the 1976-1977 and 1980-1987 model years, making it the more frequently specified of the two types for this application.
The 194 bulb is specified for the 1971-1973, 1978, and 1979 model years.
Both bulb types conform to ANSI standards recognized in the United States and Canada, indicating standardized filament, base, and voltage characteristics across manufacturers producing these part numbers.
The T10 designation refers to the bulb's tubular envelope, with the numeral indicating a width of 10 eighths of an inch. This is a widely used form factor in automotive instrument and warning light applications.