Volvo 245 Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Volvo 245 back up light utilizes P21W and 1156 bulb sizes depending on the specific production requirements for the vehicle. Available data for the lighting components covers the range from 1975 to 1989.

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
1975-1989	1156

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volvo 245 back up light bulb specification is the 1156 across all listed model years, spanning 1975-1989.
The 1156 is an ANSI-standardized bulb type, meaning its physical and electrical characteristics conform to a defined North American standard used in the United States and Canada.
The 1156 operates at 12 volts and 21 watts, which is consistent with standard automotive electrical systems of that era.
The 1156 is a single-filament bulb, meaning it serves only one lighting function, as opposed to dual-filament types such as the 1157, which handle two functions like braking and running light simultaneously.
The 1156 uses a BA15s bayonet base, where "BA15s" denotes a bayonet mount with a 15mm base width and a single contact pin, distinguishing it from the BA15d base, which carries two contact pins for dual-filament applications.
The single-contact BA15s base of the 1156 is not interchangeable with dual-contact bayonet bases, so substituting a dual-filament bulb with a BA15d base into a BA15s socket is not a compatible swap.