Freightliner FS65 Instrument Panel Bulb Size

The Freightliner FS65 instrument panel utilizes 97 and 1893 bulb sizes for the internal illumination components. Data for the specified lighting hardware covers the period from 1996 through 1997.

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
1997	97 (Cab Over Engine)
1996	1893 (Cab Over Engine)

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 2W.	1893

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Freightliner FS65 Cab Over Engine uses two distinct instrument panel bulb types across its 1996-1997 model years: the 97 and the 1893.
The 97 bulb follows the ANSI standard recognized in the US and Canada. It is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, operating at 12V and drawing 13W. It is a variant of the widely used 1156 bulb type.
The BA15s bayonet base on the 97 bulb features a single contact pin, which distinguishes it from dual-pin bayonet bases and makes it non-interchangeable with those configurations.
The 1893 bulb also conforms to the ANSI standard for the US and Canada. It is a T5 miniature wedge bulb, operating at 12V and drawing only 2W, placing it among the lower-wattage bulb types used in instrument panel applications.
The 97 bulb, at 13W, draws significantly more power than the 1893 at 2W. The two bulb types use different base designs, a bayonet base versus a wedge base, making them physically incompatible with each other's sockets.
The 1997 FS65 Cab Over Engine uses the 97 bulb, while the 1996 model uses the 1893 bulb. These specifications are year-specific and the bulb types are not interchangeable between these two model years.