Hi all it's not a new topic but I thought I'd relate my experience as it relates to the P2A03 O2 sensor code I am currently experiencing with my '06 350Z.

Background: no major mods to the car other than recent Berk HFCs in the last 4 months. Silicone Hoses etc. don't count.

When It happened: Saturday 8/18/2012 on the highway between Dallas and Austin. Driving 70-80 MPH in traffic. Nothing special going on at the time. A bit of light rain in the area. I drove that car the rest of the weekend. No adverse driving symptoms.

Next steps: I'll record sensor logs using my Droid OBD2 software (Torque). I set an appointment a the local Nissan service shop. I expect they'll recommend a sensor replacement. I'll let you know more in a couple of days after Nissan looks at it.

 

Good luck man, I replaced my sensor but it came back in a week. In the end I just had the stupid code turned off with Osiris.

 

@abarclay: Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

Update: I did get a sensor log dumped and sent to the local Nissan service Monkeys. Hopefully they can find some value in it. In all honesty the Torque app gauges look right to me when I drive the car. More updates after the service appointment tomorrow.

 

mine went off after my art pipe install so i swapped the rear oxygen sensors to opposite sides and it hasnt come back since.

weird

 

Latest Update: Nissan says that both O2 sensors on the driver's side need to be replaced. Normal replacement cost in the $900+ range, however the extended warrantee covers this and the free rental car. So far Zero out of pocket cost for me. Parts had to be ordered. Car should be fixed in a couple of days. We'll see what happens after that. Incidently the car has 96150 miles on a 100000 mile seven year policy. It was worth every penny when I bought the car in early 2006.

 

Your HFC causes the code. Either because your sensors aren't plugged in, or they are not getting proper reading w/ the defoulers on the test pipes.

Solution = plug in sensors, or deal w/ having SES light on and let your tuner reset the sensors/lights before you do emissions.

The cost of replacing sensors (if they happen to be broken) should run you no more than $200 for some NTK/NGK sensors or DENSO (OEM). There is no way the sensors would cost you $900.

 

$900 even with labor is ridiculous

 

Yep, you get sensors at autozone or pepboys for 125 a pop. And you can do it yourself in 5 minuets. 20 bucks says they come back on after 50 miles.

 

I agree with the O2 sensor costs, and the HFCs as the cause. Just this once though I'll let the Nissan Monkeys change the sensors for some shiny stock new ones. For free of course. Next round definitely aftermarket when the time comes. And yes they are simple to change. Seems to me Nissan is following 'Book' labor rates and they overcharge for just about all of their replacement parts anyway.

 

I guarantee that doesn't solve it. It's a problem on many 06+ cars and I've read multiple causes ranging from exhaust leaks to ecu shorting out to tuning issues. Join the gang.

 

Just put a queen lateefa sticker over the engine light, solves everything.

 

Update: Well I got the car back, and so far all is well. It passed the emissions test and ran fine heading back to the house. I'll know more in the coming weeks. If/when something bad happens, I'll update this thread. I may just put a disable switch on the SES LED. Might be the next best thing to black tape. LOL

 

My car ran w/out the SES for a couple months after getting sensors installed/code cleared (~1000-2000 miles). The issue is when you set the car to cruise control. Due to maintaining constant speed/AFR, there may be occasions where the sensors don't pick up any variation in exhaust gasses flowing thru or thinking it's not getting enough exhaust gas flow due to the defoulers on some test pipes and will cause the ECU to throw a code. Best thing to do is not use cruise control for extended periods of constant speed.

 

Update: Well, the SES light stayed off for only 3 days, about 500 miles. Probably not a record for short fixes. Honestly I don't care. I will however have an emissions test done by an independant testing shop. Nissan did one for free as part of this fix. If all is well with the emissions test then I'll leave the SES light reset. The Android Torque app can take care of this light reset for me. For those out there that are thinking that "I told you so" I sympathise. I expected this. I guess the message is that nothing is new in my experience with this trouble code.

 

^- i have the same problem. I know its a known problem and new o2 sensors do nothing yet many people will still recommend sensor replacements to me as the solution. Thanks for keeping the updates coming. The last post only reenforces the fact that I shouldnt be wasting money and time to replace the sensors!

Ps mine turned on ~100 miles after ART pipes install

 

Haha this morning I turned on the car and my SES light went away by itself. Didn't know it would do that.

 

they are multi-trip sensors. it will trigger after so many fail events and then turn off after so many non-fail events.

 

Oh, because I was using cruise control for a good while during a roadtrip and it caused the light to come on. Same w/ the 1st time that happened, though I was just cruise control on my way to work.

Now I've driven with the SES light on for a good 1000+ miles and this morning it went off. I guess other people with VQ35HR + ART Pipes could just wait it out then.

 

Update: I am going to take the car to Nissan service on Monday to have them continue to troubleshoot the O2 sensor code. At this point they have replaced the drivers side sensors. 'They claim to have'. I can't be sure. But since the car is still covered by the extended warrantee, I'll continue to hound them. Cheap entertainment.

I know it's like Roulette, you pay your $50 and take your chances. You'll probably all yell at me, but I am not satified with their answers. When the warrantee run's out I'll probably quit though. The car is honestly running just fine. Just added the Stillen 6 qt. Deep oil pan and with a recent spark plug replacement completed, gas milage is on the increase. The Stillen oil pan just rocks.

Stupid sensor codes.

 

Update: Well, I got the car back from Nissan (McKinney) and they did not have anything useful to suggest on how to remedy the PA203 sensor code issue. I suspect this in general is not a surprise to anyone, myself included. I have done some web research and I am resorting to trying what I consider the "Witch Doctor" remedies available over the internet. Basically the vendor talks a good game, others tend to agree these types of remedies might help out, but still no guarantee on success. Here's what I am going to try. I did a google search on 'PA203 SES Fix' and one of the sites was for this item. http://www.bigdaddiesgarage.com/mini-cat-cel-fix.html I ordered 2x of these to install and try out. Who knows, maybe they really will work. Here's hoping $100 wasn't spent in vain.

On a lighter note, I also asked Nissan to take a look at my car alarm activation, deactivation. Normally there is a horn blast when you arm the car and 2 flashes of the parking lights, and a single flash and no horn on the deactivate. For a while now I would only get a flash of the parking lights when activating and nothing other than an unlocked car when I deactivated the alarm. Apparently there are two modes of alarm operation Mode-C (uses Horn and parking lights) and Mode-S (parking lights and No Horn). I did not know that you can switch between them at will. Just by holding down the lock and unlock buttons on your remote lets you switch modes back and forth. Somehow my car got into Mode-S (no Horn). It made me think there was something wrong with the alarm system. Yesterday when I got home I change back to the Mode-C (uses the Horn) and now my car has the audio component of the alarm activation.