A gas sensor system includes a gas sensor capable of producing an output
signal responsive to the concentration of a specific gas component in
measurement gas, a gas concentration determination device that makes
electrical connections to the gas sensor and determines the concentration
of the specific gas component according to the output signal of the gas
sensor, a failure detection device that detects a potential failure in
any one of the electrical connections, a sensor temperature determination
device that judges whether the gas sensor has been cooled to a
predetermined temperature or lower with reference to a sensor temperature
parameter and a failure identification device that, when the gas sensor
has been cooled to the predetermined temperature or lower, outputs a
diagnosis signal to the gas sensor, measures potentials of the electrical
connections under the diagnosis signal and identifies in which of the
electrical connections the potential failure is occurring based on the
measured potentials.