Honda Prelude Dome Light Bulb Size

The Honda Prelude dome light utilizes bulb sizes 12961 and DE3175 for the interior illumination system. Available data covers the range from 1979 through 2001 for the specified vehicle components.

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
1997-2001	12961
1979-1996	DE3175

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 31mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3175

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Honda Prelude dome light bulb specification splits across two distinct bulb types over the model's production run, with the DE3175 used from 1979-1996 and the 12961 used from 1997-2001.
The DE3175 is an ANSI-standardized festoon bulb, meaning it is a cylindrical lamp that makes electrical contact through metal caps at each end rather than through a base socket.
Festoon bulbs are held in place by spring-loaded clips in the dome light housing, and the 31mm length of the DE3175 is a critical fitment factor, as a bulb of incorrect length will not seat properly between those clips.
The 12961 is a Philips part number for a T10 miniature wedge bulb, which uses a W2.1x9.5d base. This base type is a plastic wedge that is pressed directly into a socket, with no separate metal base pins.
The T10 wedge and the DE3175 festoon are physically and electrically incompatible with each other, as they use entirely different socket and retention systems.
Both bulb types operate on a 12V automotive circuit, which is standard for passenger vehicle interior lighting.
The 12961 is rated at 5W, placing it in the low-wattage range typical of interior courtesy lighting, where heat output and current draw are kept minimal.
The 1996 Honda Prelude represents a fitment boundary year, as it uses the DE3175 rather than the 12961 that was introduced for the 1997 model year, meaning the two adjacent model years require different and non-interchangeable bulbs.