2003 G35 failed CA smog test - "lazy" O2 sensors???

[mask10425x]

Hi, just took my car for its first ever smog test [not previously required per CA rules for new(er) cars]. Failed CO(%) 15 mph test miserably: .50 max allowed, 2.14 tested. Did fine on all other tests including CO(%) at 25 mph... Anything over 2.00 is considered Gross Polluter by the State of CA and I must take it to a Test Only Station after getting it fixed.

Had to take the car to a local Infiniti dealer in the Valley since there were no Check Engine lights or anything for the smog shop to work with. The service advisor called me hours later to inform me that they thought that my car had three "LAZY" oxygen sensors (the fourth one was replaced last year, details below) that do not operate fully at 15 mph. The cat has apparently been damaged over time because of this but due to an extended CA emissions warranty, it will be replaced free of charge. Unfortunately, this coverage does not apply to the O2 sensors, or so I was told. The estimate for the three sensors and labor is about $1,100 + tax. The registration and smog test are due on 01/06/09. OUCH!!!

Here is a little background on the car. It will be 6 y.o. in a few days and has just under 50,000 miles. I got it in June of 2005 with about 33,000 miles, probably mostly freeway; then drove another 16-17K in mostly nasty LA Westside bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The car was involved in one accident where I got rear-ended and sandwiched between a speeding MBZ SL550 and Dodge Durango. Had decent damage to both front and back since the Durango had a trailer hitch. Could that accident have caused enough of a voltage spike to damage the sensors? The only problem with this G35 ever was a bad O2 sensor last summer soon after the accident. The Check Engine light did come on that time and everything seemingly went back to normal after an OEM replacement.

The two service advisors at the same dealership gave me two exactly opposite opinions on likelihood of ALL O2 sensors going bad in this manner. Any comments, ideas and suggestions would be much appreciated!

Happy New Year to all,

Alan
Modified by mask10425x at 11:46 AM 12/31/2008

[mask10425x]

bump... anyone out there?

[hwyix]

Post all your numbers up and I will take a look for you.