[gregb4500]

I have 2009 Smart. It has 60,000. I am getting a Check Engine Light Code P2188 on a weekly basis. I keep clearing it. I changed my spark plugs last September.

Some people say it might be Mass Air Flow Sensor. I don't know where it is or what it looks like. If someone can tell me where to look for it or can share a picture of it i would really appreciate it. Other than this there are no other mechanical problems with my car.

So if someone had dealt with the same issue, I would greatly appreciate some guidance on resolving it.

 

[jetfuel]

...sorry..no MAF in these cars..
...did you put Iridiun plugs???


jetfuel...LUK

 

[jimvw57]

Seems like dirty air filter comes up alot when doing a search for P2188..

 

[SmartDigger]

from a mazda site

The ECU modulates the purge solenoid to allow a specific amount of vacuum through during the Evaporative Emissions self-test. If the valve is stuck open it will allow unmetered air to be drawn into the intake manifold and cause a lean condition. If it is stuck closed it would most likely cause an Evap specific CEL (most likely P0455), so it's possible but I doubt your P2188 is caused by the purge solenoid. But to be sure you can remove it and wire the terminal that corresponds to the black/orange wire to any 12 volt source. Then have a wire coming off the other terminal. Try blowing through the solenoid with the free wire connected to nothing, then again when it is grounded. You shouldn't be able to blow any air through unless the wire is grounded.

Again, I'm sure a P2188 has been caused by a purge solenoid failure, but seems unlikely. That being said, it comes out easy and is tested easy, so it's a good place to start. After I would check out the MAF sensor. Check terminal tension and condition, wires for pinch/stretch condition, and sensor element for contamination. I've also heard of a faulty thermostat causing this code.

 

[chieftmc]

...sorry..no MAF in these cars..
...did you put Iridiun plugs???


jetfuel...LUK

 

[jetfuel]

...seems like people swapping plugs to the Iridium type get the rich at idle BS not long after the swap...

Jetfuel....better??...

 

[NCC1701]

I've got my first ever CEL at over 67K miles, the P2188 which brought me to this thread. I've got a ScangaugeII, which is where I got the code. And attempted to clear it. But, it won't clear.

I've read the possible causes. One being a sudden end to strong acceleration. If that were the cause, it would clear, right?

Digger's Post #4 kinda left my head swimming. Some, but not all of it, is over my head. Even the parts I understand are beyond my knowledge base to diagnose, arggg.

I've had the iridium plugs for years. No code until today.

It won't clear even momentarily.

 

[rfernatt]

Are you trying to turn off the CEL while it is running? I had the 2188 come on once around 50K, turned it off, then it came back on again around 60K, turned it off and it hasn't been back over the last 8K miles. I attributed it to a twitchy sensor.

 

[NCC1701]

Yes, on both attempts to reset the CEL, I had the engine running. Is that a problem with the reset?

 

[rfernatt]

Yes, on both attempts to reset the CEL, I had the engine running. Is that a problem with the reset?

Could be an issue. I did it with the engine off and the key turned to the position just to get the dash lights on, but engine not started.

 

[NCC1701]

I'll try it engine off tomorrow. Thanks. Hope it works.

I know there are other causes of the code that might actually cost money (bad sensor).


EDIT: Next day. I tried it without the engine running. It worked! At least for now the CEL is out.
So, I learned yet something else from you guys, thanks.

 

[Rustedwrench]

When you people post for help with a fault code it would benefit all if you included a description for the code. There are about forty million codes and I, for one, can not remember all of them. Fifteen or twenty million is my limit.

A translation of Digger's post is this: the SAE description for P2188 is "system too rich at idle bank 1." Too rich means too much fuel for the amount of air being ingested, or conversely, too little air for the amount of fuel injected. The most common thing on these cars seems to be a stuck or sticking purge valve. (This is an observation, not a diagnosis.) The purge valve regulates fuel vapors from the fuel tank that are being ingested into the engine intake manifold. If the purge valve get stuck open or too far open at idle the excessive fuel vapors can cause a rich conditon, hence the fault code.

The overall purpose of the purge valve is too keep a slight vacuum in the fuel tank when the engine is running so no fuel vapor can escape into the atmosphere through the open vent valve. When the engine is off the fuel tank vent valve closes and the fuel tank vapors are forced to go into the charcoal cannister where they are stored until the engine is restarted, at which time they join the vapors from the fuel tank and they all get sucked into the engine.

The Mazda description is not exact for smart because smart does not use a mass air flow sensor.