Modern Vespa

So... I got the bike at the weekend. I managed to run dow the battery immediately through my own stupidity.

I've run it off the kick start and trickle charged the battery today. IThe ignition is working again, but the electrics aren't: Speedo, lights indicators etc... Although the horn is.

Any ideas what I should be looking at? It's a PX200 disc.

Hello.
If you give us some more information about the scooter, what year etc. We can look up a wiring diagram. Once we have the same diagram, we can run through it with you.

My scooter is a 2012 PX125E. It has the most complicated wiring of the lot. I think it was designed by the Christmas tree light Faery.
Do you have a multi meter and do you know how to use it?

Already I'm suspicious. The ignition circuit is independent to the rest of the electrics. If everything was disconnected as in you were installing a new wiring loom. You should be able to connect the wires from the alternator to the coil and run the engine.

I see Ireland/Dubai as your location, so I assume your PX is a European market model. Everything mentioned not working, runs on regulated 12V AC. I'd check the AC output on regulator for over-voltage (blue & grey)...

The bike is a 2002 PX200 Disc MY model, European.

I was planning to go to a motor factors and pick up some fuses. It's probably worth changing them all anyway after 20 years. I just picked up the bike last weekend.

I do not possess a multimeter, nor have I ever used one. But I understand the basic principle.

Thanks, I have no idea what A/C output or blue grey are, but I'm willing to poke around and find out. & Years, you are right... Lived in Dubai when I joined the forum, now back in Dublin.

At the top of your engine is a black plastic box (the size of a match box). Unscrew it and open it up. You'll see two sets of white plastic connectors. Focus on the round one with the blue and black wires. See if those are connected, tight and clean. If you see if black/ dirty/ disconnected etc. that could be your problem and report back.

You really need a multimeter. Can you borrow one or buy a cheap one?
I have found a diagram in my Haynes manual. There's a lot of wires there. So get a nice big note pad and a pen as well.
The idea is to carefully draw the individual circuit that your dealing with.
That way you're only looking at one or two wires in amongst the mess. And you can see how the circuit works much more clearly.

Thanks for all the help so far... Unfortunately work expect me to dedicate time to them... Something to do with them giving me money... So I haven't had time to scope out the problem. I had the battery on trickle charge at the begining of the week. But the battery is dead again. I'm guessing a new battery might be needed.

I'll pick up a multimeter in the morning and have a look to see what I can find in the black box.

While you work on this issue of correct wire routing, I'd suggest you disconnect the negative wire on the battery. I learned from my automotive repair days that this prevents drainng the battery while you figure out the correct wiring.

Hi guys. I own a multimeter now... No idea how to use it. Id be grateful if you could let me know:

Do I set it to 20 (as picture)?
Do I run the motor on the bike as I use it?
Should the battery be disconnected or connected?

Thanks... Fun with Vespa's 😀

If you're going to measure the DC output on the battery terminals, yes, you are correct. If you're going to measure the AC output (the one that powers the lights & indicators) of the regulator (its behind the battery tray), you need to go to AC (photo). Measure blue to ground and grey to ground. Max reading should be ~13,5V while revving. If it's more, then the regulator is dead and has blown up your bulbs and probably the turn signal relay which is usually the first to go (green box next to the regulator)...

I'm getting 13 off the battery, but there's no power to the electric start at all.

Inside the little blue cover at the back I'm getting 5.0 - 6.5v between red and green wires.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/references/how-to-use-a-multimeter

Thank you, this got me started. Also I tried the two loose cables in the glove box ( the ones for the indicator buzzer, there was nothing reading there at all.

Deleted post...

Thank you all very much.

I opened the black box on the left hand side and found the lose connection. I now have power to the lights, Speedo and indicators and the bike is starting off the electric start.

I really do appreciate all the support, wouldn't have had the confidence to get it sorted otherwise.

If there no smoke/flames, it aint "massive"

That may have been a wee exaggeration...

Ah Jaysus...

Here we go again... This morning,the lights and indicators are still working, but the starter and speedo are not. I checked the connections in the little black box again and they are connected and the battery is still giving out 13v...

The starter isn't even giving the slightest bit of juice... She's still working off the kick though.

If it aint a smokin, it aint a brokin

Hi guys, I have arbitrarily decided to separate this issue into two component parts...

I've ordered a new speedo cable and little gear thingy to try to resolve the speedo issues... The rest of the functions seem to work, so it's possibly not related to the electrical stuff, worth a try...

For the starting issues... I have a big spanner to give the starter motor a bit of a knock to wake it up.

If neither of the above work, I'll just give up and put the Vespa in the bin.

Instead of the bin, you can ship it to me

speedo gear.. no electrics controlling the actual speedometer functionality. Just that gear and cable.

starter motor broken. ignore it and use the kick start.

problems solved.

Kick start does look cooler! 8)

For the starter motor, try measuring the voltage at the starter power terminal.

Set your meter to its lowest resistance setting, touch your leads together and verify proper operation. You should get something close to "0", 1 ohm or less depending on meter quality etc. If this doesn't work figure out why or your just wasting your time.

Use the direct current voltage setting on your meter at 20 VDC.

Connect the ground wire or black wire to the frame or negative on the battery.

Touch the red wire to the battery positive it should read battery voltage, if you have a good ground. If you don't try again until you know it's good.

Connect the positive wire or red wire to the power terminal of the starter and press the start button.

You should see battery voltage ~12 VDC when pressing the button. If you do the starter motor has quit, if you don't the next step is checking the starter relay.

Do you have to have the clutch lever pulled in on your scooter for the starter to work? Did you have it pulled in?


https://www.howtogeek.com/318722/how-to-use-a-multimeter/#:~:text=In%20any%20case%2C%20here's%20a,denoted%20with%20a%20V~%20instead.

Yes & yes...

Thanks, this is really helpful! I'll give it a go.

About a 1/4 way down this page there is a picture with wiring that shows what your trying to measure and verify operation of. Ignore the ignition coil for this project.

https://startersolenoid.net/starter-relay/

I'm a feckin'genius or possibly a mechanical god...

Electric start is now working, don't ask me how, just did some exploring and managed to fix the connection.

Speedo cable arrives in the next couple of days... After that, I'm clear (of all the current issues) 😃

Who knew Vespa's could be so much fun!

It's only just begun. Get comfortable. There will be more to follow!