Honda Prelude Map Light Bulb Size

The Honda Prelude map light requires bulb sizes 12961 and 168 for the interior illumination components. Data for the specified lighting hardware covers the period from 1992 through 2001.

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
1992-1996	168

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Honda Prelude map light bulb specification splits across two distinct bulb sizes depending on the model year, with the 168 used from 1992-1996 and the 12961 used from 1997-2001.
Both bulbs share the T10 miniature wedge form factor, meaning they occupy the same physical bulb envelope shape despite carrying different part designations.
The 12961 is a Philips-assigned part number rather than an ANSI industry standard designation, and it specifies a W2.1x9.5d base type, which is the standard wedge base used across many miniature automotive interior bulbs.
The 168 carries an ANSI standard designation recognized in the United States and Canada, making it widely available across multiple manufacturers under the same number.
The 12961 operates at 12V and 5W, while the 168 operates at 12V and 4.9W, placing both bulbs within a very narrow wattage range of one another.
Although the wattage values are nearly identical, the 12961 and 168 are listed under separate specifications for their respective year groups in the Honda Prelude, and substitution between them is not confirmed by the provided data.
The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 refers to a wedge base with a 2.1mm wire width and a 9.5mm insertion depth, which is a common standard for low-wattage interior lighting applications.
The T10 designation on both bulbs refers to the bulb's tubular shape with a width of 10 eighths of an inch, a sizing convention used in the miniature bulb industry.