Honda Prelude Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Honda Prelude back up light utilizes 7440, P21W, and 1156 bulb sizes depending on the specific generation and configuration of the vehicle lighting system. Available data for the specified components covers the range from 1979 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	7440
1979-1996	1156

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament wedge bulb (T20). 12V, 21W.	7440
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Honda Prelude back up light specifications cover model years 1979 through 2001, spanning two distinct bulb types across that range.
The 1156 bulb is the more widely used of the two types in these specifications, appearing across the 1979-1996 model years of the Prelude.
The 1156 is a single-filament bulb rated at 12V and 21W, and it uses a BA15s bayonet base, which features a single pin for mounting and locking into the socket.
The 7440 bulb is specified for the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude, representing a change in bulb type from the earlier model years.
The 7440 is a T20 wedge-type bulb, also single-filament and rated at 12V and 21W, but it uses a wedge base rather than a bayonet fitting.
Although both the 1156 and 7440 share identical voltage and wattage ratings, their base types are physically incompatible, meaning one cannot be substituted for the other without a socket adapter or modification.
Both bulb types conform to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada.
The single-filament design of both bulbs is consistent with back up light applications, which require a steady on/off function rather than the dual-intensity operation associated with dual-filament bulbs.
The shift from the BA15s bayonet base of the 1156 to the wedge base of the 7440 reflects a socket design change between the fourth-generation and fifth-generation Prelude platforms.