Modern Vespa

Question,

When turning on the ignition of the GTV should the fuel light come on as a test?

My fuel light was coming on when the fuel gauge was indicating about half tank pretty reliably before this winter, now the gauge is showing 1/4 tank and so far no light.

The light also does not come on with the other lights when the ignition is turned on. Can't remember if it used to or not.

Thanks for you input!

No, it does not come on as a test when the ignition is switched on. It should only come on when the tank is somewhere about 1/4 full.

The fuel gauges on the Vespa's really don't work so well. I'd look in the tank and see if you can do a visual on what's left. Might need a good run and fill up before it gets back to it's normal. Mine shows 3'4 when full. Yellow light is spot on tho.

Thanks! I'm hoping that the light will come on shortly.

On my 2013 gts ss 300 you get more or less 3 litres in the tank when the light comes on. The light seems very dependable.

My meter shows full when it is full. It stays full for a long time, when it starts moving from full I think I am almost down to half tank, then it drops like a rocket to just over half tank. After that it seems to move "linearly".

If it never comes on, does that mean you will never need gas again?

I keep track of of my mileage at each fill-up. It's a bit easier with the 250's digital trip odometer, but the fuel light, trip odometer and gauge all seem to be pretty consistent. Shocking I know.

If it doesn't come on soon, I'm thinking it's broken. It has always come on at the half tank mark on my fuel gauge before. Gauge is now down to less than 1/4 tank and no light. Still have plenty of gas based on past history and what Fuely is telling me.

Well let's hope that this riding season it comes on at the 1/8th mark. Imagine that? An accurate indicator.. AAaaaaand you won't have that light in your face for 60 miles. My Ducati neutral light stays on all the time. It reaps havoc on my OCD.

Yeah, mine comes on about the 1/8 mark, or a little higher.
When it comes on, it means I've had a bunch of fun. Again.

I like that. And FWIW my GTS 250 gas light comes on with all the other lights at startup, but my instrument configuration is different.

I will also say the scooters are Italian after all and get pissed when you don't slather them with attention. Leaving him/her for a whole winter would be enough to have it pissed. Leo acted up and i threatened him with being a lawn ornament. He behaved after that. I'm thinking it should go back to normal after a ride or 2.

That's the behaviour I'd expect (and get on my Vespas) because of the shape of the tank. A third of the tank (the bit that wraps around the back, where the filler is) is above the top of the fuel level sender, so for the first 1/3 of a tank the sender is completely immersed, and will read full.

Last night when I got home from work as I parked the scooter in the garage I gave it a good push down on the handlebars and the fuel light would come on. I'm going to fuel up on my way in to work this afternoon and well see what happens with this tank.

So today's fill up leads me to believe that my fuel gauge is to blame. With the needle on about 1/8 of a tank, still no fuel light, but I was only able to squeeze in 5.5 liters of gas. I should have about 9 total right?

Ah! Italian precision.

Hi Charles,

I'll check mine. To be honest, I don't really pay attention to that and it is never on when I am riding unless getting low on petrol.

Roughly speaking - the gauge normally reads full until about 1/3 has gone, then the fuel light comes on when about 1/3 is left. You have about 8.5l of usable capacity, and I'd expect the fuel light to start coming on when there's just under 3l left. So 5.5l for a fill-up when the light's just come on sounds about right.

With both the 300's here, the fuel light comes on solid when about 1.6 US gallons have been consumed (and the gauge needle is just in the red). That's about 6l - so it's all in the right ball-park.

Hey Charles,
Checked mine when going out today. It does not come on with the other lights. Having said that, I will be mindful when reaching the bottom of the tank to see if it does come on at all.

Cheers mate.

My biggest pet peeve is the fact that the low fuel light comes on way early.. grrrr!


Maniac