P2190: System Too Rich at Idle Bank 2
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Yes briefly - rich running at idle wastes fuel and loads the converter.
Symptoms
- Fuel smell at idle
- Rough idle
- Black smoke when stationary
Likely causes, most common first
- Injector leaking on bank 2
- High fuel pressure
- Purge valve stuck open
- Oxygen sensor on bank 2 reporting incorrectly
Read P2190 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P2190 reports a rich mixture at idle on bank 2. A leaking injector is the classic single-bank cause, and it has a distinctive signature: the engine is hardest to start after sitting overnight, because fuel has been seeping into that cylinder all night.
A fuel pressure gauge left connected after shutdown tells the story. Pressure that bleeds away quickly means fuel is escaping somewhere, and combined with a single-bank rich code that usually means an injector rather than the regulator.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Cars that report P2190 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P2190?
Yes briefly - rich running at idle wastes fuel and loads the converter.
How much does it cost to fix P2190?
Typical US repair costs range from $150 for the simplest fix (purge control valve) to $600 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P2190. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.