Modern Vespa

Losing the will to live with my ET4 because of starting issues and I am thinking of getting rid of it. I'm getting very little joy out of it and am thinking it would be better off with someone else.

After going through as many pages with similar starting issues, I have come to the conclusion that it is a starter grounding issue.

Based on information here ET4 electrical problem I set about checking it out for myself. I admit to being clueless with mechanics, but after an hour armed with a photo I still couldn't find anything that looks similar.

Could someone point me to the exact areas using some photos and general directions? I'm willing to have a go, but need clear instructions.

When I left it with a mechanic last year he changed the starter motor and the battery and all seemed to be well for a while, but this soon went. He mentioned he found a spare wire and connected it to the battery. Is this likely to be a ground wire that hasn't been connected in the proper place? (Sorry, my electrical knowledge is as poor as my mechanical knowledge).

I am considering giving to a mechanic to look at, but am fed up of spending money on it, which is a shame as it is a great ride and a lot of fun when running. Just wish I could rely on it.


Many thanks in advance.

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A friend suggested a way to test if the issue was the starter grounding would be to attach a ground between the battery and starter motor using a jump lead. Would this be an effective test?

I've noticed that once I try starting from the button, it tries to kick over and then goes in to a high pitched squeal. Any clues as to what this might be?

Sadly sold my ET on or I'd check for you. The ET electrical diagram should be in the wiki in the top menu, which might help you. The electrics aren't that complex on the ET, so should be possible to work out where that stray wire should have been...
Could you describe the fault more clearly?

Thanks. I've checked the diagram and I see what it is supposed to do, but I cannot relate this to what I can see, or believe I should see.

On a full charge, I get a huge metallic noise and clunks whilst it tries to start. It may start after 2-3 button presses, mostly more. Invariably, it makes this sound and then will sound like a dead battery, then it will let out a high pitched whine. A kick of the kick start resets the compression and I can try again, otherwise it acts like the battery is dead.

It sounds like various videos on MV of people with starter motor grounding issues.

FWIW and may not be the same, but I missed connecting a ground wire to the CVT cover when I removed it to refurb it and then replaced. Strong clunks and struggling whrr whrrr sound when trying the electric start, but wouldn't start. Noticed the wire, reconnected it, and bingo, straight back to a perfect start. So it does sound like a wiring ground...

That's reassuring.

All I need now if to identify where it is and goes.

Need to know:

Do I need to take off the side panel?
Do I need to remove the air filter box?
Any other clues?

The tricky thing with a ground is that it tends to use an existing point used for something else - so my ground just used one of the 11 or 12 bolts that hold the CVT cover on, hence I missed it initially.

Wondered if these pics might show up any clues for you...
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=599&q=vespa+et4+engine&oq=et4+e&gs_l=img.3.0.0i5l2j0i24.330.1466.0.3335.5.5.0.0.0.0.228.624.3j1j1.5.0....0...1ac.1.42.img..0.5.610.qnOMpQip6GY#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=x367x0mh0iPmOM%253A%3BVpqvYWkcUGbBgM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.varsitycycle.com%252Fphotos%252Fused%252Fet4_02_6512%252FMVC-018F.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.varsitycycle.com%252Fused%252Fused_et4_02_6512.shtml%3B640%3B480

thanks brown_beret7. I'll take a look.

Left my scoot alone for a few weeks, but had a few hours spare today so I took it to a Vespa mechanic in Birmingham, (Danny at Gran Sport). He deals mainly in classics and Lambretta's, but wasn't 100% sure as it was electrical so he sent me to another Vespa mechanic not too far from him, (Rob at JC Motorcycles).

He pointed out the starter motor ground was wrong, two wires where one was needed, (a point to me for noticing), and pointed out where the ground should go. Result.

He suggested a further thing to check, but mentioned a decompressor, bushes, gaskets and other mechanically sounding stuffs and I started to feel faint.

I got home and tried the ground fix and no joy. However, I've booked it in with him for 20th June so hope that will be the fix. If not, it's ebay for Gina.

Big thanks to the guys for spending the time to look and for the advice.

Oh, and they had a raffle to win a PX at Gran Sport, so picked up a ticket. Draw is tonight, so fingers crossed.