Modern Vespa

I am a newbie, just inherited a Vespa ET2. It sat for about 10 years in a garage. It has some weird electrical issues i need to sort out.

It WILL kick start & runs fine even without cleaning out carb! However it has some odd issues.

- I installed a new & fully charged battery (checked out with volt meter, etc)
- Turning key on will not activate ANY of the dash lights or starter.
- But, with key on, dash lights dead, it will kickstart & run & idles OK
- dash lights come on with running engine.
- Oil light flickers once started, oil is full up continues to do so
- Activating red Kill switch does NOT kill engine, it starts to sputter & wont rev properly, but engine keeps running?!?!

I am a pretty experienced Moto mechanic, I have 7 bikes, new & vintage. including a Vespa GT200 & do all my own work & restorations.

Any suggestions on what might be causing this. Hoping I can get some ideas before blindly jumping in. I am wondering if rodents have chewed some wires, though I see no evidence of infestation.

Thanks,
Jack from NW Suburbs of Chicago....

ET2 wiring diagrams etc here:
https://manuals.wotmeworry.org.uk/Vespa/ET2/

Note the lights (apart from brake light and turn signals) are AC, not DC from the battery, so only come on with the engine running.

Jim, thanks for the info and the link to manuals, Very Helpful!

re-reading your original post - are you aware that you need to have the brake light on in order for the electric starter to work? A common fault is for one or both of the brake light switches to fail, which would prevent any current flowing to the starter relay.

Thanks for this additional info. I doubled check starter applying both brakes, still completely dead.
Just to clarify "normal" operation...when I turn the ignition key on, the ET2 model gives the operator no light or indication of any sort notifying operator that it is ready to start?

That really seems odd to me.

Thanks,
Jack

To clarify, you checked the brake light actually came on? I haven't worked on an ET2 for many years, so I'm afraid I can't answer that. I'm sure another member knows though!

When I turn mine on the oil light comes on for a few seconds and the brake lights and turn signals work. If the kill switch is on everything works but the starter doesn't turn. Try jumping the 2 large wires on the starter relay to confirm it's not the starter relay. The relay is located in the battery compartment on the right side. You will probably need to pull the battery out of the way. Try these things and get back to us.

if the kill switch wont shut off the engine, I would start there..perhaps something was hard wired in there ...and poorly at that

Thanks PinkScooter & Jixsaw..I will check out what you have posted & do the relay checkout.

Jack

I too am having the "Gremlin" problem.

2001 ET2-50. New battery fully charged. New spark plug. Have had it running as recently as yesterday. But I never know when it will decide to start.

Horn Works and brake lights will come on. Head lamp sometimes yes/ sometimes no. Starter button will cause a single click.

I have a new replacement starter relay I could swap out... but dont yet know where it is located on the ET2-50.

Any ideas of what else I should check?

The starter relay is on the right side of the batter mounted to the body. You need to pull the battery to get to it. If the scooter has sat outside its possible that it has some corrosion.

Thanks for the help & ideas!