An apparatus for detecting faults on outputs of a half-bridge-peak-and-hold pre-driver having a high side output and a low side output, the apparatus comprising: • a power supply, a first switch, a load, a first current sensor (112, 116) coupled between the first switch and the power supply; • the first current sensor (112, 116) being configured to turn on and off responsive to signals received by the first switch from the pre-driver; • the first current sensor (112, 116) being configured to provide a first signal representing current flowing into the load from the power supply when the first switch is on; • a first peak detector coupled to the first current sensor (112, 116) and configured to provide a first output signal representing a substantially instantaneous peak value of current flowing into the load from the power supply when the first switch is on; • a second current sensor (132, 136) coupled between a second switch and a reference potential for the power supply; • the second current sensor (132, 136) being configured to turn on and off responsive to signals received by the second switch from the pre-driver; • the second current sensor (132, 136) being configured to provide a second signal representing current flowing out of the load and into the reference potential; • a second peak detector coupled to the second current sensor (132, 136) and being configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a substantially instantaneous peak value of current flowing out of the load and into the reference potential node; • a comparator coupled (142, 144) to the first and second peak detectors and coupled to the pre-driver; • the comparator configured to turn off the pre-driver within a predetermined amount of time, when the first output signal from the first peak detector exceeds the second output signal from the second peak detector by an amount greater than a first predetermined threshold amount, • wherein the load comprises a solenoid, which requires a first actuating current having a first magnitude and a second hold-in current, the second current having a lesser magnitude than the first current, • wherein the load is coupled between the first switch and the second switch; • and wherein the half-bridge peak-and-hold pre-driver is configured to provide the first and second currents to the solenoid by turning the first switch on and off using pulse• width modulated signals provided to the first switch. • a power supply, a first switch, a load, a first current sensor (112, 116) coupled between the first switch and the power supply; a power supply, a first switch, a load, a first current sensor (112, 116) coupled between the first switch and the power supply; a first current sensor (112, 116) coupled between the first switch and the power supply; • the first current sensor (112, 116) being configured to turn on and off responsive to signals received by the first switch from the pre-driver; • the first current sensor (112, 116) being configured to provide a first signal representing current flowing into the load from the power supply when the first switch is on; • a first peak detector coupled to the first current sensor (112, 116) and configured to provide a first output signal representing a substantially instantaneous peak value of current flowing into the load from the power supply when the first switch is on; • a second current sensor (132, 136) coupled between a second switch and a reference potential for the power supply; • the second current sensor (132, 136) being configured to turn on and off responsive to signals received by the second switch from the pre-driver; • the second current sensor (132, 136) being configured to provide a second signal representing current flowing out of the load and into the reference potential; • a second peak detector coupled to the second current sensor (132, 136) and being configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a substantially instantaneous peak value of current flowing out of the load and into the reference potential node; • a comparator coupled (142, 144) to the first and second peak detectors and coupled to the pre-driver; • the comparator configured to turn off the pre-driver within a predetermined amount of time, when the first output signal from the first peak detector exceeds the second output signal from the second peak detector by an amount greater than a first predetermined threshold amount, • wherein the load comprises a solenoid, which requires a first actuating current having a first magnitude and a second hold-in current, the second current having a lesser magnitude than the first current, • wherein the load is coupled between the first switch and the second switch; • and wherein the half-bridge peak-and-hold pre-driver is configured to provide the first and second currents to the solenoid by turning the first switch on and off using pulse• width modulated signals provided to the first switch.