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Piaggio 500
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Location: Pittsburgh
 
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Piaggio 500
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Location: Pittsburgh
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My boss recently went out and bought one of these Piaggio scooters.
I'm a car mechanic but I figured i'd give getting this thing running again a shot.

He bought the bike in NJ and rode it home to Pittsburgh PA
After he got home, the bike would no longer run.

I'm not 100% sure on the year but I can say it is FUEL INJECTED not carb'd. Says 500IE or EI on the body.

With that being said, after checking for spark/air/fuel, it seems there is no gas getting to the injector. So, like I have found to be the problem with many cars I swapped out the fuel pump today (pump unit only) and there is still nothing at the injector no matter how long i crank it or anything.

Bike had 320 miles on it before the purchase, and he's really not trying to drive back to NJ with it to have it looked at when he just got it home.

Spark Plugs were also just replaced for shits and gigs because he didn't want me to just tear it apart at first.

From my tests all the fuses and relays seem to be in proper working order. but im not sure if i may have missed one or am looking at the wrong thing.

Any help is appreciated!
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Piaggio 500
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Location: Pittsburgh
 
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Piaggio 500
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Location: Pittsburgh
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Not sure if these scooters have like an ECM type deal that could possibly be faulty? I see they have a check engine light but Im sure they require a special tool to scan and not just anything I have around...
@old_as_dirt avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 GTS
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Posts: 22823
Location: Harriman, Tennessee, Tn
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@old_as_dirt avatar
2007 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22823
Location: Harriman, Tennessee, Tn
UTC quote
check ALL the fuses.
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Piaggio 500
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Posts: 5
Location: Pittsburgh
 
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Piaggio 500
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old as dirt wrote:
check ALL the fuses.
Going over them again now, not sure if I might have missed some that are hidden somewhere.... Also just popped off the fuel line (tank to injector) to check if the pump was even pulling fuel and the line had a decent bit in it. Blew through it to see if there was an obstruction and the gas came shooting out the injector side. Could it be I just am lacking patience and need to let it crank a little longer?
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Molto Verboso
portofino green GTV 300
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Location: w.ma. Northampton
 
Molto Verboso
portofino green GTV 300
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Location: w.ma. Northampton
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Is the kill switch on.
@jimc avatar
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Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Posts: 44570
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
When you first switch on, before trying to start, can you hear the fuel pump whirr for a couple of seconds? If so, then the 'injector loads relay' and the pump are OK. If not, then the most likely thing is the fuse that feeds the relay, followed by the relay, and most unlikely is the pump.

Next - check for spark, etc etc...

Note on some older Piaggio X9 500's, the kill-switch allowed it to crank but the fuel and spark were stopped.
OP
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Member
Piaggio 500
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Location: Pittsburgh
 
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Piaggio 500
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Kill switch is set to RUN, Kickstand is up, seat switch pressed.

Hard to hear if pump is running in the warehouse with all the other noises going on. Not sure if the compression from the piston is what drew fuel into the line after pump replacement or if the pump is functioning...

Doesn't help any that the manual im going off of's font is like like 4 or 6 point so it's damn near impossible to read for me... Not exactly sure which Fuse / Relay / etc is in direct correlation to the fuel system. All of them are testing out O.K.
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Piaggio 500
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Location: Pittsburgh
 
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Piaggio 500
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jimc wrote:
When you first switch on, before trying to start, can you hear the fuel pump whirr for a couple of seconds? If so, then the 'injector loads relay' and the pump are OK. If not, then the most likely thing is the fuse that feeds the relay, followed by the relay, and most unlikely is the pump.

Next - check for spark, etc etc...

Note on some older Piaggio X9 500's, the kill-switch allowed it to crank but the fuel and spark were stopped.
Where would the injector load relay be located?
The one hanging off the side of the frame?
At any rate what should these test to?
@jimc avatar
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Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44570
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
First off, what '500' is this? An X9, a Beverly or an MP3? When we know that I can point you at decent wiring and workshop manuals.
@davelx avatar
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Molto Verboso
2016 Piaggio BV-350
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Posts: 1879
Location: Virginia, USA, from London, England
 
Molto Verboso
@davelx avatar
2016 Piaggio BV-350
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Posts: 1879
Location: Virginia, USA, from London, England
UTC quote
Post a pic of the scoot and we at least know what we're dealing with here!
@lomunchi avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2020 Honda NC750DCT
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Posts: 6945
Location: Maple Grove, MN
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@lomunchi avatar
2020 Honda NC750DCT
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Posts: 6945
Location: Maple Grove, MN
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I think the Scarabeo is labeled "500ie"
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Addicted
Buddy 125, Scarabeo 150, Scarabeo 500ie, Triumphs, Vespa Sprint 150
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Posts: 732
Location: Charleston,SC-Knoxville, TN- Sanibel, Florida
 
Addicted
Buddy 125, Scarabeo 150, Scarabeo 500ie, Triumphs, Vespa Sprint 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 732
Location: Charleston,SC-Knoxville, TN- Sanibel, Florida
UTC quote
Yes, Aprilia Scarabeo 500ie.....or maybe a Piaggio BV500.

Not sure which yet.

Maybe neither.

fried okra

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