On 11/18/04 12:30 PM, in article
XS5nd.33653$7i4.9728@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net, "Don Enderton"
<Enderton@nosuchaddress.duh> wrote:

> I'm replacing the right low beam bulb on my 98 Accord EX V6 sedan for the
> first time, which gives rise to two questions:
>
> 1) The owner manual says to use a 51 watt HB4 bulb, and that's also stamped
> right on the plastic near the bulb on the car itself. But most of the HB4
> bulbs I see listed by auto parts dealers are rated at 55 watts, not 51
> watts. If I only replace one low beam bulb, will this cause a visible
> mismatch in the amount of light from each side?

They get dimmer as they age. A new bulb will probably be noticeably
brighter than the old original on the other side. Try it and see for
yourself first, but you will probably want to replace both sides.

> Does it make any difference
> whether it's 51 watts or 55 watts? If so, does anyone know the brand name
> and dealers for a 51 watt bulb?

4 watts is not going to make any difference. Be careful not to touch the
glass on the new bulb with your bare fingers, the little bit of oil from a
fingerprint will cause it to prematurely fail.

>
> 2) Behind the left low beam headlight assembly there is a black plastic
> shroud attached at the top by two clips which are easy to remove. But the
> same shroud is held at the bottom by something I can't see. How do I remove
> the shroud without damaging the bottom attachment point? Do I just pull it
> up, and pop it back, or is there a clip down there, too, that I have to
> retrieve and replace?
>
I haven't seen any '98s to know for sure, so I can't help with that
question.