Modern Vespa

The usual culprit for burning smells or fire outbreak is the big brown 3-way connector between the stator and the regulator, which is located just under the seat hinge. Lots of current available, no fuse to blow. However it wouldn't appear to be that in this case.

I'm a little bit confused whether the cause of this was a misplaced gas cap, or if that was only for the person with the burned ET, but if the cause is not some sort of driver error, I suggest that the OP let the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration know about the fire. If this is a systemic safety problem, they will be able to figure it out and put pressure on Vespa to deal with it.

That was the cause for only the ET. I do the trick where you put the cap under the lip of the pet carrier. At the time of the fire I had about a gallon left because the gauge almost read empty.
Since the fire was toward the back the seat release melted and neither the electric or manual release would open it. The fire department used a crowbar and popped it open. The metal pin remained in the latch and the plastic broke when they did so. I looked at the gas tank after they opened it and the gas cap was there.

Bummer!

Well I got the report back from the fire investigator and he attributed the fire to a failure in the engine compartment. He did not put any blame on the dealership that had just serviced the scooter but rather Vespa directly. Since the scooter was less than a year old do you guys think this could be a warranty claim? If there is a chance I could get a replacement for my dearly departed I would be very happy. Let me know what you think.

I would see what the process is for putting in a Warranty claim and act accordingly. If the fire was caused by a bad part covered under warranty, Piaggio may honor the Warranty and write off the incident as an anomaly. I'd be interested in what the report said, specifically whether the fire was caused by a faulty part versus a design defect in the 300. Hopefully, it is not design defect, as that is recall and class action territory, which is no fun for companies or customers! Good luck!

Wow. I would try and put a claim to Piaggio. Do you have a good dealer? Maybe they can help you. Rubbing some rabbits feet so you'll have good luck.

I do have a good dealership here in Austin. I think they are members of this forum. I will contact them tomorrow, because I think they are closed today. Thanks guys!

Yeah... probably. Got to love the lack of commitment on that one.

If they try to tell you otherwise tell them to jump off a cliff. Other riders on here have dropped a GTS and had it totaled. By dropped I mean parking lot.

For some reason they consider these disposable.

Sorry for your loss! It is like losing a friend.

That would be the HT cable to the spark plug. Maybe with a blown exhaust gasket. Sorry just saw Jim's post. His makes more sense.

This has happened to me once. It brings back not so pleasant memories. Hope it all gets sorted out

Wow, that is something! I'm curious to find what the cause was. Give us a call and we'll figure out how to get it to the shop. Is it still in the possession of the tow company?

The insurance company took it. But the investigator's report said that the dealership has the right to look at it. Hopefully tomorrow we can arrange something. I want to get back on the road and on with my life.

The insurance company took it right after the fire and has had it the last two months while the investigator has been looking at it. The report he sent me said the dealership has the right to look at it so I will contact them and see what we can do. I want to get back on the road and on with my life.

I certainly hope it is all gonna be alright. When this happened to me the insurance company just totaled the scooter. I did have the fuel cap on though. However they said that the damage to the garage siding was not covered because the accident wasn't my fault! Whose accident is anybody's fault? I was livid but it all came out in the wash. VRM helped me with the siding.

Edited for clarity.

I fixed that for you.

It took me a while to see the large diameter sheared hose in the picture directly below the brown relay. It is sheared just beneath the metal clip. You can see something red under it where the remainder of the hose should be. You can also make out what looks like the remainder of the hose sticking out of the injector.

On my 2007 GTS 250, there are two parallel hoses. I assume that one is from the fuel pump and the other is for the fuel return. They both come through the hole in the sheet metal to the right of the brown relay and connect side by side to the injector. These hoses are formed, and must flex with the vertical engine movement. There is no clip.

As a regular safety check, we should check the fuel hose(s) for flexing, wear, and cracking beneath the clip. It's better if the hose is too long rather than too short. I don't want to scare anyone, but this looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

Cheers,
Bob

Hi Bob, i have just had to replace the injector in my gts for the same reason as i previously explained, i was riding along at 30 ish mph and could smell a really strong petrol vapour i hit the red kill switch immediately.
Upon lifting the seat the injector had sheared at the return pipe side so would have continued spraying petrol until it either ran out or set on fire.
I purchased a new injector and modded it by inserting a length of 1/4 brake pipe with a hole in the center, this was then pressed though the injector to provide a reinforced coupling.
As the original injectors are made of plastic this mod will significantly improve the structural integrity of the joint at the coupling.
I have witnessed this problem on gts models many times and warn all owners to check the part by giving it a firm wiggle.
Cheers
Atb.

Can someone please photoshop the engine picture (or one of an intact engine) and circle where the injector hose is? I'd really like to check mine...

-Dan

Well after many attempts to contact vespa in many ways I've been ignored for the last time. It appears that customer support is not one of their strengths. It is for that reason I am not replacing my GTS right now, and when I do it will not be with a vespa. It's like I dated a model and found out she was really mean.
I know that their quality is usually very good but I don't like the fact that should something horrible go wrong you are on your own. If they won't stand by their product I won't either.
Thanks for all of your advise and help.

So so sorry that they didn't do right by you. Didn't your insurance cover it? Good luck in your new adventures and don't be a stranger on here. Your still welcome. BOB and DREW so how often should the fuel lines etc be changed? Mine were done at about 4yrs. Seems like you should do it a tad more often than what folks do. I live in a harsh environment so i'm pretty good. should be a wake up call for everybody.

Thanks Judy,
I did have insurance. However I foolishly financed my scooter and the insurance did not cover the full amount. That part is not Vespa's fault. The faulty part that caused the fire and the cold shoulder I got afterward is.

Hi all, Dan requested a picture of the offending part,
Here it is.
Cheers
Atb.

Been watching this thread. Always expected it to get worked out. It's both surprising and upsetting that Piaggio didn't make it right for you.

I understand why you'd not want to do business with them again.

Sorry for the loss of time, energy and money this has caused you.

So sorr about this ...

1st off super glad you are unscathed !

2nd ... no ins. carriers I contacted will do an agreed value policy (and I called many) this means the only amount you get back is what their "book" says its worth. This sucks !

3rd ...Piaggio totally turned tail by your info / description . (I assume this was still under warranty ? ) Please make this incident known to the proper authorities. Wonder how many others ... what was responce from dealer ... who completed the 1st service ?






good cheer to you

B.

I was also underwhelmed by Piaggio USA customer care (less). Will never have anything to do with a Piaggio product again. I feel your pain.

You have no contract or customer relationship with Piaggio (USA/UK/Wherever).

Only with the dealer you bought the bike from.

I was hoping this was a thread about Alicia Keys and a Vespa.
I've seen batteries short, and i've seen the pipe into the fuel pump break on GTS models, so hopefully you will get to the bottom of this and things will be set right.

That's unlikely. Piaggio doesn't care, my dealership has done all they can, and I'm done trying.

I also have to say - if you don't take out enough insurance to cover the losses you don't want to cover yourself (deductible etc) - then that is not Piaggio's or your dealer's fault.

It's a tough life out here.

No Agreed value insurance on these critters ... your subject to the carriers "book" value . No matter waht you pay.

B.

Terrible situation. Coming in late however had it been recently serviced? How many miles on it?

So sorry for your loss.

SDG

Fire happened in April. It was less than a year old, about 1000 miles, serviced two weeks before.

Wow.

Gonna read the whole thread.

SDG

Hey, David. It was in for first service just before the incident, nothing weird at that time. I sent ALL the information about the incident to the tech office and they apparently haven't contacted anyone beyond that. Because insurance paid for the loss of the bike, it's between the insurance company and piaggio, since the bike seemingly failed from a defect while under warranty.

as someone mentioned prior, file a report with the IIHS. In cases of vehicle fires it doesn't take too many vehicles for the IIHS to get on the case of manufacturers.

The 'Fire' bit of my UK insurance will replace like with like - subject to negotiation.

So it is possible.

My insurance company told me afterward that replacement was an add on. Now you tell me. But I guess I should had done my research better.

So understanding this an anomoly regardless of whether it's a manufacturer defect or human error may I be so forward to ask what insurance paid you out?

Best,
SDG

ouch......my stomach flopped seeing your scoot..... hope you get it squared away perhaps ask for a discount on a new one

I don't want to say exact number even though it is all said and done but it was over $1000 less than the balance. That difference is not really the issue. When my insurance adjuster talked to me she explained what my policy covered and why. I was not properly insured but that was my own fault.

However the whole situation started with a faulty part that started a fire while I was still riding. I was alerted to the fire by another driver and got off seconds before the flames came up on the seat. If I had been on a less populated road thing may not have turned out so well. I guess this is the source of my anger with vespa. I narrowly avoided serious injury and then they wouldn't even talk to me about the issue. Sure at first I was hoping they would help me get onto a new scooter, but after a couple months or so I was hoping they would just email or call me back.

Allstate will, but you have to talk to an agent:
http://www.reviews.com/motorcycle-insurance/allstate/