What does the second number in the SAE fault code indicate?

What does the second number in the SAE fault code indicate?

• A. Message identification
• B. Type of circuit failure
• C. Type of sensor circuit
• D. Number of fault occurrences

Answer: (B)

SAE fault codes are built so digits point to different aspects of a fault. The second digit designates the circuit type involved—essentially the category of the electrical path being affected, such as sensor circuit, actuator circuit, or power/ground circuit. This helps technicians quickly locate where the problem lies in the system, not just what message or subsystem is involved. The first part of the code identifies the broader message or system, while the second digit narrows it to a circuit category. The other options don’t fit because the second digit isn’t the message identifier, it isn’t limited to a specific sensor circuit, and it doesn’t represent how many times the fault has occurred.

SAE fault codes are built so digits point to different aspects of a fault. The second digit designates the circuit type involved—essentially the category of the electrical path being affected, such as sensor circuit, actuator circuit, or power/ground circuit. This helps technicians quickly locate where the problem lies in the system, not just what message or subsystem is involved. The first part of the code identifies the broader message or system, while the second digit narrows it to a circuit category. The other options don’t fit because the second digit isn’t the message identifier, it isn’t limited to a specific sensor circuit, and it doesn’t represent how many times the fault has occurred.