The Mazda Protege front side marker requires a 168, 194, or 1157 bulb size, while the rear side marker uses a 194 bulb size. A replacement chart detailing bulb sizes across 1992 to 2003 model years is provided.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Mazda Protege side marker positions draw from three bulb types across the listed model years: the 168, 194, and 1157, all of which conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The 194 is the most frequently specified bulb across both the front and rear side marker positions of the Protege, appearing across the widest span of model years in the data.
Both the 168 and 194 are T10 miniature wedge bulbs operating at 12 volts, sharing the same base form factor. The 168 is rated at 4.9W, while the 194 draws 3.78W, making the two bulbs electrically distinct despite their physical similarity.
The shared T10 wedge base between the 168 and 194 does not make them interchangeable without consideration of wattage differences, as substituting a higher-wattage bulb in a socket rated for a lower one can affect socket integrity over time.
The Mazda Protege front side marker uses the 168 bulb for the 2001-2003 model years and the 194 for 1995-2000, representing a shift in wattage specification at the front position between the 2000 and 2001 model years.
The 1157 is specified for the Mazda Protege front side marker in 1993 and 1994 only. It uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which is physically incompatible with the T10 wedge sockets used in all other listed Protege side marker positions.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb rated at 21W and 5W on its two filaments, a construction that differs fundamentally from the single-filament design of the 168 and 194. Its use in a side marker application typically engages only one filament.
The rear side marker position uses the 194 bulb exclusively across all listed model years, with no variation in bulb type at that position.
The front side marker of the 1992 Protege uses the 194, while the rear side marker for the same year also uses the 194, making 1992 the only year in the dataset where both positions share the same bulb type and that type is not the 168 or 1157.
The BAY15d bayonet base of the 1157 requires a twist-lock installation method, whereas the T10 wedge base of the 168 and 194 is inserted by direct pressure, meaning the 1993-1994 front side marker housing is structurally different from those used in other Protege model years.