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I've gone through the P2188 too rich at idle threads and haven't really found a definitive answer to the problem. I guess it is a pretty generic code however I'm now in the same boat as others who have had the problem.
What I didn't see in the threads was whether those that had the code finally got rid of it.
In my case I started to get the code after I blew the head gasket on my 451 last fall. We got the car back together this spring and though it runs great it throws this code pretty much every time I drive it. I reset the code with my Innova 3100 scan tool but it returns. *note that with this smart the only way to reset the code is to have the car not running but with the key in the run position. Otherwise code will not clear.
I have replaced the air cleaner which was filthy but again code returns. When we restarted the car for the first time the exhaust system blew a lot of white smoke due to residual coolant in the system and I'm wondering if I might have caused problems to the O2 sensor(s).
While the car was apart we replaced the water pump and thermostat, I did read that a stuck thermostat might cause this code and I remember that this part came in 3 pieces so am wondering if perhaps we didn't put it back in quite right....
The other comment I found was driving style, eg hard acceleration and/or sudden lift off on the gas pedal. It's possible I might be doing this as I've been trying to run the car hard to blow out any crud in the system and I did notice that when I ran up the car to high speed on the highway it threw a code shortly thereafter. So I have been taking it easy on the throttle to see if a lead foot is the issue but so far... I am hoping that the O2 sensor(s) might have had some residual coolant that needs to burn off so fresh premium and multiple highway runs will be done to see if I can get this code to stop popping up. However so far no luck.
I picked up an ELM 327 off eBay and at first could not get it to sync with my LG G5 android phone and DashCommand. I did get it working with Piston however I notice some oddities with this setup. Primarily the speakers cycle on and off which is probably due to the phone also being connected via bluetooth through the smart factory bluetooth system (which btw I would not recommend). Also had a strange throttle failure warning trigger with the ELM attached, cleared this code and unplugged the ELM and code has not returned so I think there is some sort of problem/incompatibility with the ELM and my particular smart. Or is it possible that this code might be another clue as to the issue. I have used the ELM to reset the P2188 code with engine off and key in run.
Will likely order up the scanguage II instead as I'm a bit concerned that continued use of the ELM may eventually damage the SAM maybe not but by the time I find out it would be too late....
The other thing that seems new is that the car takes a bit of 'priming' to start, I recall that you don't just crank the key but have to turn to run and let it settle in for a couple of seconds. Not doing this or not giving it a bit of gas causes the starter to run for an extended period as if it isn't getting enough gas at first. A short stab on the gas pedal while cranking solves this, however could this be connected to the problem? I would think a bad or dying fuel pump or clogging filter might throw a lean or different code. I do let the car sit for extended periods in the winter, however I only run premium that does not contain ethanol.
Also of note the car only had 1/4 tank of fuel when I blew the head gasket and I was getting the code before I filled it up the other day. Also based on what I read I didn't fully top up the tank due to the comments of flooded EVAP canisters.
I guess at this point I keep running, keep resetting codes and see what happens. I will be borrowing a better scan tool to read fuel pressure etc just in case the problem is there but have not had the time to take it over to the shop.
What I didn't see in the threads was whether those that had the code finally got rid of it.
In my case I started to get the code after I blew the head gasket on my 451 last fall. We got the car back together this spring and though it runs great it throws this code pretty much every time I drive it. I reset the code with my Innova 3100 scan tool but it returns. *note that with this smart the only way to reset the code is to have the car not running but with the key in the run position. Otherwise code will not clear.
I have replaced the air cleaner which was filthy but again code returns. When we restarted the car for the first time the exhaust system blew a lot of white smoke due to residual coolant in the system and I'm wondering if I might have caused problems to the O2 sensor(s).
While the car was apart we replaced the water pump and thermostat, I did read that a stuck thermostat might cause this code and I remember that this part came in 3 pieces so am wondering if perhaps we didn't put it back in quite right....
The other comment I found was driving style, eg hard acceleration and/or sudden lift off on the gas pedal. It's possible I might be doing this as I've been trying to run the car hard to blow out any crud in the system and I did notice that when I ran up the car to high speed on the highway it threw a code shortly thereafter. So I have been taking it easy on the throttle to see if a lead foot is the issue but so far... I am hoping that the O2 sensor(s) might have had some residual coolant that needs to burn off so fresh premium and multiple highway runs will be done to see if I can get this code to stop popping up. However so far no luck.
I picked up an ELM 327 off eBay and at first could not get it to sync with my LG G5 android phone and DashCommand. I did get it working with Piston however I notice some oddities with this setup. Primarily the speakers cycle on and off which is probably due to the phone also being connected via bluetooth through the smart factory bluetooth system (which btw I would not recommend). Also had a strange throttle failure warning trigger with the ELM attached, cleared this code and unplugged the ELM and code has not returned so I think there is some sort of problem/incompatibility with the ELM and my particular smart. Or is it possible that this code might be another clue as to the issue. I have used the ELM to reset the P2188 code with engine off and key in run.
Will likely order up the scanguage II instead as I'm a bit concerned that continued use of the ELM may eventually damage the SAM maybe not but by the time I find out it would be too late....
The other thing that seems new is that the car takes a bit of 'priming' to start, I recall that you don't just crank the key but have to turn to run and let it settle in for a couple of seconds. Not doing this or not giving it a bit of gas causes the starter to run for an extended period as if it isn't getting enough gas at first. A short stab on the gas pedal while cranking solves this, however could this be connected to the problem? I would think a bad or dying fuel pump or clogging filter might throw a lean or different code. I do let the car sit for extended periods in the winter, however I only run premium that does not contain ethanol.
Also of note the car only had 1/4 tank of fuel when I blew the head gasket and I was getting the code before I filled it up the other day. Also based on what I read I didn't fully top up the tank due to the comments of flooded EVAP canisters.
I guess at this point I keep running, keep resetting codes and see what happens. I will be borrowing a better scan tool to read fuel pressure etc just in case the problem is there but have not had the time to take it over to the shop.
