Well I've been trying (although not too hard since I got the Civic Hybrid) to get the 350z to pass smog. It had HFC's when I purchased it and tried twice with them to pass smog. Failed emissions both times. About a week ago replaced the high flow cats with OEM cats. Drove about 3-4 miles, threw a CEL. Something about an o2 heater. Anyways...there's a way to reset the ECU by turning on the car and pressing the gas a couple of times then turning off the car. Ran the car about 5 miles without an CEL. Take it to get smogged...pass emissions but fail because it read the CEL, forgot that the memory will cache it. Left the smog place and CEL came out about 5 minutes later. The ECU reset is a temporary fix and I just need to find a way to get the code out of the ecu for the couple of minutes I'm at the smog place. Should I just disconnect the battery over night?

 

You can just get a code scanner such as one made by the company Actron. It will allow you to read & remove the codes.

 

I was just looking for an easy way to clear the code temporarily to pass smog. Guess I'll just buy a new o2 sensor.

 

sounds like your O2 sensor got bumped or damaged when your cats got reinstalled.

probably need a new O2 sensor but be careful to determine which side it was.

 

Does the code tell you what side it is?

 

Not sure about Calif, but my state, like most checks the OBD status. It has to be "ready" meaning that you've completed a clean drive cycle. Usually, that takes one to two weeks of driving for it to go from not-ready to ready. That prevents you from reseting a code then driving into a inspection station and getting a "pass". Around here, if you come in with a not-ready, you have to wait two weeks before coming back for a retest.

 

Dave-You're right. I can't pass by resetting the ECU. The code still shows up. Apparently I need a new o2 sensor. Is the part # the same for all 4 o2 sensors?

 

you can't pass smog if the the monitors on the car haven't cleared yet. ie: if you just cleared the codes you will not pass because every obd2 car has monitors for certain things like 02's, catalyst, misfire monitor, evap monitor, and so forth. everytime you clear the codes it resets all of them and monitors won't be ready! to get your car to pass i would replace the bad o2 that you have and then clear the codes and do a couple of drive cycles to ensure most of your monitors have ran so when you do go to get smogged you don't fail! ( this is what i know from working at the dealership. oh and also say there are 10 monitors only 8 have to clear to pass!)

 

yeah, my volvo needed more than just a couple drive cycles after replacing my 02 sensor and resetting the codes. couple hundred miles.

 

Well I replaced the o2 sensor after some difficulties (thread on the cat was messed up and new o2 didn't want to go in but after cleaning the thread it finally went in!) and so far no SES light. It's been about 50 miles right now but I'm not holding my breath. After 100 miles I'll try to get it smogged. no one ever posts results in a thread so I want to keep this updated in case someone runs into the same problem.

 

Forget 100 miles...I drove home after I posted that (10 miles) and went to autozone and checked if the code was cleared...sure enough it was. Went to get smogged and finally passed. Took forever but hey ateast it's done now.