[dlearl476]

So my 2008 Cabrio has been throwing CEL lights of late. Code P2188. Thought I'd get a Star Diagnostic Scan to narrow it down but the cheapest one I can find is $140. i.e. About the same price I can buy a star device on eBay.

Can anyone shed light on the code? I did a high-test/Italian tune up and it helped, but I'm still getting the light every time I let it idle or shut it off before it fully warms up.

IIRC, spark plug interval is 40K and I changed them then. At 65K it's not yet time to change them again, but who knows?

 

[litlun]

Look for a vacuum or an exhaust leak. They will both throw the same code.

 

[dlearl476]

Wanted to wait a while to make sure the issue was resolved before I posted. After reading all I could and watching a few YouTube videos, it dawned on me that the last two times I'd done a service I had only blown out the air filter. So I ordered a new one from Amazon and voila, no more CEL. Funny thing was it was like I'd added a turbocharger to the smart. I've never noticed a clean air filter making such a difference in performance before. Good for 2 mpg as well.

Lesson learned. As difficult as it is to change the air filter, I think I'll be replacing them every other 5K oil change instead of blowing them out twice before replacing them.