The Toyota Tercel back up light utilizes 1156, 7440, and P21W bulb sizes depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data for the lighting components covers the range from 1980 through 1998.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 1156 bulb is the dominant back up light specification for the Toyota Tercel, appearing across model years 1980-1997 in the general back up light position.
Both the 1156 and 7440 bulbs share identical electrical ratings of 12 volts and 21 watts, and both are single-filament designs, meaning they serve equivalent functional roles despite differing in physical construction.
The 1156 uses a BA15s bayonet base, a single-contact bayonet fitting that locks into the socket with a twist, while the 7440 is a T20 wedge-type bulb that seats by friction alone, making the two physically incompatible with each other's sockets.
The 7440 is specified for the 1998 Tercel in both the general and outer back up light positions, representing a socket-type change from the bayonet-based 1156 used in prior years.
Both bulb types carry ANSI standard designations applicable to the US and Canadian markets.
The outer back up light specification for the 1998 Tercel carries a production date qualifier of "From 12/1997," indicating the 7440 fitment applies only to vehicles produced from December 1997 onward.
The outer back up light for the 1995 Tercel carries a production date qualifier of "From 09/1994," indicating the 1156 fitment in that position applies to vehicles produced from September 1994 onward.