So I've been reading on the forums about the possible causes of the P2188 CEL that I'm experiencing, and it seems for most it goes away. I'm not that lucky. My car is driving fine, no idling problems or anything. I am noticing boost holds up fine and reaches 10-13, however I am unable to get the car to overboost (maybe because the CEL is activated?). I have had the CEL for about 3 months now. Half of that time it was intermittent, now the CEL is constant.

My car is an '07 MCS with 70K miles. RMW tune for 1.5yrs (almost 35K miles). CEL existed with and without the homemade intake I have (intake has been on car for 50K miles, car has had the stock intake back on for 1500miles now). I have recently done an oil change and Seafoam and MAF cleaning in the hopes of fixing the CEL.

I'm listing some values that I've logged with my ScanGuage in the hopes it helps someone see what I should be looking for. I'll be stopping by a friend's house who has a scanner so we can see what the MAF and O2 sensor values are. Please let me know if there any other ScanGuage values that I should pull that may be helpful.

A/F: 14.6 when pressing gas pedal
23.1 immediately after letting go of the gas pedal
12-15 when coasting (foot off of gas pedal but still moving fwd at hwy speed)

MAP: 9-13 when pressing gas pedal
3 when coasting

LP: CLSD when gas pedal pressed & when idling
OPEN when coasting no pedal

LOD: 30-40 when gas pedal pressed
26 at idle

IGN: 8-18 when gas pedal pressed
0 when coasting
-4 at idle

TPS: 20-30 (60 at WOT) when gas pedal pressed
16 when coasting

CPM: 0.254 pressing the gas
0.125 slightly pressing the gas
0 while coasting

VLT: 13.8 at idle and 14.2 while driving

 

Those values aren't of much help...they don't really relate to your P code.

I'm assuming you cleared the code after you cleaned the MAF? Check all your boost tube connections too

 

Was hoping something obvious would be there, but figured it was useless info.

Yea reset CEL after MAF cleaned. Still came back once ECU was ready.

Checked intake tubing but I still need to look over the others. There is no obvious symptoms of a boost leak, though.

 

I've been battling the same issue for quite some time (07 MCS, no mods)...cleaned the MAF a few times, checked for vacuum leaks, etc., no luck. I first started getting the CEL for just a few days, then it would turn off for a few days, then return. The CEL was always preceded by a slight loss of power, and what my butt-gauge felt as a loss of boost. The CEL has now been on a month. Took it in to a local shop for a free diagnostic and they noted that the upstream 02 sensor had low voltage (.3), which they said was the probable cause of the CEL. My MINI is still under warranty, and due for an oil change, so it's headed to San Antonio MINI next week. I'll post up when I find out what they determine the problem to be.

 

Definitely let me know. I'm hoping to get a better look at some parameters tomorrow with a proper scan tool. I'll let you know if I see that low voltage.

 

Okay. The issue isn't the MAF, it's less than 18kg/h as per spec. The O2 sensors seem to be reading correctly also. We replaced the Timing Chain Tensioner with the newly revised part and the car is running a lot better and quieter. We cleared the code (with brake held down) and I'll see if that did the trick.

While I have a shop scanner available, any readings that I should look at?

 

Timing chain tensioner did not fix the CEL.

Some values at idle:
MAF (kg/hr) = 16.8
MAP = 13.6
ABS FRP (psi) = 699
IGN ADV = -4.0 to -5.5
O2S12 (V) = 0.790
O2S11 (mA) = -0.051 to 0.008

Any idea what O2 sensor values should be?

 

 

I think the voltage should oscillate between about .4 and .5...your pre-CAT looks to be pretty low.

 

Just got my car back...diagnosed as a warped/leaking valve cover, replaced valve cover and gasket. No return of cel as yet.

 

Thanks for the update! That's great to know how you got it fixed. I wonder if there is a way to test this out on my engine? I'll have to look into it.

I'm still going to double check my bank 1 O2 sensor. Anyone know what baseline values for it are at idle? Thanks.

 

Just a heads up...the cel came back again the following day after repair. It'll be going back to the shop in a couple weeks. I'm going to run it to empty, then refill at a different gas station to see if perhaps if the fuel that I'm using is causing the cel. I'm using Shell V Power now, but perhaps there's a high ethanol content at that particular gas station; I'm going to try Chevron and see if it runs better. Hell, never know until you try! I wish we could get ethanol-free around here, but no luck.

 

Well that's good and bad. Good because I really didn't want to pay for that out of pocket. Bad because now we don't know what is causing this CEL. Any idea if they're going to flash your ECU? Did they think your O2 sensor looked okay?

 

Well, the p2188 saga continues. After the dealership replaced the valve cover, the CEL returned. Brought it back and they replaced the o2 sensor (pre-cat). CEL returned a day later. They said that particular CEL was coincidental, and that it had no relation to the previous issues and was the result of a faulty gas tank vent, they fixed that and the CEL returned again. They did another leak test and changed out the intake tube...CEL returned again a couple days later. So far it has been in the shop off and on for 3 weeks...MINI San Antonio has been great though, no complaints. They've provided a loaner each time, and they're as exasperated as I am. On the plus side, my car will be loaded with new parts. I'll post up when they finally figure out what the fis is.

 

I am having the same issue with the notorious P2188 code. Please post once on your progress.

 

I am having the same issue with the notorious P2188 code. Please post on your progress.

 

After multiple visits to the shop (for a total of close to 3 months) and thousands of dollars in warranty work, it ended up being the MAF sensor. Haven't had a CEL in close to a year.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Did you clean it or have it replaced?