How serious is this DTC?
A stored P2280 code will likely be accompanied by severe driving symptoms. The conditions that contributed to storing the code must be rectified as soon as possible.
What are some of the symptoms of the code?
Symptoms of a P2280 trouble code may include:
- Significantly decreased engine performance
- Engine may stall during acceleration
- Backfires may also occur during acceleration
- Misfire codes might accompany P2280
What are some common causes of the code?
Causes of this code may include:
- Clogged air filter element
- Torn or collapsed air intake hose
- PCV breather tube disconnected from air intake pipe
- PCM or programming error
What are the troubleshooting steps for P2280?
To diagnose a P2280 code, a diagnostic scanner, digital volt/ohmmeter (DVOM), and vehicle-specific diagnostic information source will be required.
If you can use your vehicle information source to locate a technical service bulletin (TSB) that matches the vehicle’s year, make, and model; as well as engine size, stored codes, and presented symptoms, they might provide useful diagnostic information.
Start with an inspection of the air filter element. If it’s excessively dirty or clogged, replace the filter and test the vehicle to see if symptoms disappear. If not, carefully check the air intake hose for any folds, cracks, or signs of collapse. If abnormalities are found, the air intake pipe should be replaced with an OEM replacement part.
If MAF codes accompany P2280, inspect the MAF sensor hot wire for unwanted debris. If debris is present on the hot wire, follow manufacturer recommendations for cleaning the MAF sensor. Never use chemicals or cleaning methods not specifically recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
If the air filter is clean and the air intake pipe is in good working condition, use the scanner (connected to the vehicle’s diagnostic connector) to retrieve all stored codes and relevant freeze frame data. It’s a good idea to note this information before clearing the codes, then road test the vehicle until the PCM enters readiness mode or the code resets.
If the PCM enters readiness mode at this point, the code is intermittent and may be much more difficult to diagnose. If this is the case, the conditions that contributed to storing the code may need to worsen before an accurate diagnosis can be made.
However, if the code immediately resets, to complete the next step of your diagnosis, you’ll need to search your vehicle information source for diagnostic flowcharts, connector pinout diagrams, connector face views, and component testing procedures/specifications.
Follow manufacturer specifications to test MAF and MAP sensors using the DVOM. If both sensors are functional, test the system circuits. I prefer using the voltage drop method.
A stored P2280 code is typically corrected by repairing a clogged air filter element or a cracked air intake pipe