Today, the "SAE J1939-73 PDF" is a heavily protected and frequently updated technical standard (most recently updated in ). It contains thousands of lines of logic that define:

Within the J1939 framework, . While J1939-71 covers general vehicle application layer parameters (engine speed, oil pressure, coolant temperature, etc.), J1939-73 focuses exclusively on diagnostic services, diagnostic messages (DMs), and the physical diagnostic connector interface.

A J1939 DTC consists of three parts:

A counter that increments every time the fault goes from inactive to active, showing how frequently the issue occurs.

SAE J1939-73 is a protocol specification that defines the communication requirements for vehicle networks using the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The protocol is designed to enable electronic control units (ECUs) from different manufacturers to communicate with each other seamlessly, allowing for the exchange of data and control signals. SAE J1939-73 is an extension of the SAE J1939 protocol, which provides a framework for communication between ECUs in vehicle networks.

For professional development, engineering work, or compliance certification, purchasing the official PDF from SAE International or an authorized distributor is strongly recommended.