Ford Tempo License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford Tempo license plate component requires a 194 or 168 bulb size depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available information covers a span from 1984 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
1985-1994	194
1984	168

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

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Tempo uses the 194 bulb for its license plate position across the 1985-1994 model years, with the sole exception of the 1984 model year, which takes the 168 bulb instead.
Both the 194 and 168 are ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulbs sharing the T10 form factor and a 12-volt operating voltage, which means they are physically interchangeable in terms of socket fit.
Although the 194 and 168 share the same T10 wedge base, they differ in wattage. The 194 draws 3.78 watts, while the 168 draws 4.9 watts, making them electrically distinct despite their physical similarity.
Because the 168 draws notably more power than the 194, substituting a 168 into a socket rated for a 194 introduces a higher electrical load than the circuit was specified to handle in the 1985-1994 Ford Tempo.
The T10 wedge base is a pinless design in which the glass envelope itself acts as the retention mechanism within the socket, a construction common to low-wattage automotive auxiliary lighting.
ANSI standardization for both bulb types means that any 194 or 168 bulb produced to that standard, regardless of manufacturer, conforms to the same electrical and physical specifications.
The 1984 Ford Tempo represents a distinct fitment requirement from all other listed model years, and using a 194 in that position would result in a lower wattage output than the vehicle's specification calls for.