Nissan Sentra Dome Light Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The DE3175 is the dominant dome light bulb across the Nissan Sentra's specification range, appearing in model years 1982-1990, 1993, and 1995-2020. It is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb with a 31mm length and end-cap contacts, rated at 12V.
• Festoon bulbs make contact at both flat ends of the bulb rather than through a base pin or wedge, which is a distinct physical trait that makes them non-interchangeable with wedge-type bulbs without an adapter or socket modification.
• The 2023-2024 Nissan Sentra uses the 12961 bulb, a Philips part number designating a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. This represents a different bulb format from the DE3175 used in earlier model years.
• The W2.1x9.5d base of the 12961 is a specific wedge base standard where the numbers describe the contact width and pin spacing. This base type is not physically compatible with the end-cap festoon socket used by the DE3175.
• The 158 bulb appears in the 1991-1992 and 1994 Sentra. It is also a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3W, sharing the same general form factor as the 12961 but carrying a lower wattage rating.
• Although the 158 and 12961 are both T10 wedge bulbs, their wattage ratings differ at 3W and 5W respectively. Substituting one for the other may affect light output and could exceed socket ratings if a higher-wattage bulb is used in place of a lower-rated one.
• The 1993 Sentra uses the DE3175 festoon bulb, while the immediately surrounding years 1991-1992 and 1994 use the 158 wedge bulb. This indicates the dome light socket type was not consistent across those adjacent model years.
• The DE3175 carries ANSI standardization applicable in both the US and Canada, meaning bulbs from multiple manufacturers conforming to that standard share the same physical and electrical specifications and are generally interchangeable within that designation.