The Volvo 242 front and rear turn signal bulbs both utilize a 1156 size bulb for proper operation. The replacement chart covers vehicle production spanning 1975 to 1984.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Volvo 242 uses the 1156 bulb for both the front and rear turn signals across the 1975-1984 model years.
The 1156 is an ANSI-standardized bulb type, meaning its physical and electrical specifications are governed by a recognized North American standard used in the United States and Canada.
The 1156 operates on a 12-volt electrical system and draws 21 watts, which is typical for incandescent turn signal applications requiring sufficient brightness for daytime visibility.
The 1156 uses a BA15s bayonet base, where "BA15s" denotes a single-contact bayonet fitting with a 15mm base width. The single-contact design corresponds to the bulb's single-filament construction.
Because the 1156 is a single-filament bulb, it serves a dedicated signaling function rather than a combined stop-and-turn function, which in dual-filament applications would require a two-contact base such as the BA15d.
The uniform use of the 1156 across both front and rear positions in the Volvo 242 means a single bulb type covers all four turn signal sockets on the vehicle.
The 1156 is not interchangeable with the visually similar 1157 bulb. The 1157 is a dual-filament variant with a BA15d two-contact base, and installing it in a BA15s socket is not possible without modification.