Electrical/Electronic Terms, Abbreviations, And Definitions
To support standardization of names, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has produced SAE J2403 - "Medium/Heavy-Duty E/E Systems Diagnosis Nomenclature" - targeted for medium and heavy duty applications. As does the component code nomenclature standard long employed in TMC's Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standard (VMRS), SAE J2403 uses a base word, appended with modifiers in progressive detail to describe the component.
| Base Word | Modifers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | What does it sense? | Which Temp? | Where is it? | What is its purpose? |
| Sensor | ||||
| Sensor | Temperature | |||
| Sensor | Temperature | Coolant | ||
| Sensor | Temperature | Coolant | Engine | |
| Sensor | Temperature | Coolant | Engine | Instrumentation |
SAE J2403 provides a consistent method of identifying a parameter or component. BASE-MODIFIER NOMENCLATURE EXAMPLE depicts how this "base-modifier" relationship is developed. TMC has endorsed this effort through the publication of TMC RP 1203A, ELECTRONIC TERM STANDARDIZATION, which adopts and references the J2403 document and J2403 digital annex. Manufacturers and diagnostic applications should make a conscious effort to use SAE recommended names whenever possible.