Modern Vespa

Bringing an ignored 2008 MP3 500ie back to life.

It sat with a dead battery for years.

I need to understand the immobilizer system on the machine..

IS the system an Active or passive system?


IE-- passive.. the key has a Matching chip in it... when the ignition is turned ON.. it pings the key for the code.. IF they match.. it allows the ignition to turn on..


Active. The key must have power and actively talk to the ignition before it will turn on..


In my case there is a little red light on the bottom of the left instrument that flashes constantly.. Even when I lock and unlock the remote.. Is that normal?

IF the immobilzer is ACTIVE.. what does it do?
1. prevent the started from spinning
2. Allow started to spin, but no fire to the plug or fuel injecto?

You can read all about the immobiliser in the workshop manual. https://manuals.wotmeworry.org.uk/Piaggio/Piaggio%20MP3/

IT started... rotten gas and fuel injector cleaned.
Now I need to run good gas through it..

Tilt lock took some sorting.. I have to remove tilt master cylinder and flush it out.. full of crude and flush lines to the strut lock outs... Would not bleed so I pulled a vacume on them.. after several cycles.. No more beeping..

My 08 MP3 250 only sat for 11 months but won't start. I drained 80-90 percent of the gas in the tank and filled with new ethanol free with a strong dose of Sea-Foam but still no run. It will start with starter fluid but won't continue run. I did pull and checked out the injector and it looked clean as new, What did yours look like? It appears that my fuel pump isn't pumping and/or the fuel filter is clogged. Cheapest place for a fuel pump is $228.00 and the filter is $140.00. Hopefully they can be cleaned. I hate ethanol gas. Any thoughts?

Sounds like that bike didn't sit for 11 months, but rather 11 years.

As I posted in your other thread, you're looking at a new pump and filter as ground zero.

If the price of admission is too steep, then better drop the project.

Sea Foam is garbage. Worked great on 2 stroke outboard motors though, hence the name, about 50 years ago when 2 stroke boating was still a thing.

Get a real fuel injection cleaner, like a Techron at a minimum or better yet Red Line SI-1/Liqui Moly

I was thinking of techron today sbaert. I'll give it a try but doesn't fuel have to get to the injector before the techron can work. I have to ask because you want me to spend money before an inspection. Do you work for Piaggio? I'll clean the parts you mention before I spend hundreds of dollars replacing them. I'm not going to throw parts at the scoot until it runs. I do appreciate your input so keep it coming and I'll let you know what works.

I definitely don't work for Piaggio, nor would I want to.

But given all the ailments the bike has, it is going to take some up front money for replacement parts to get it running. The bike is way beyond the spit polish stage.

Using your example, how is fuel going to get to the injector if the pump and filter are whacked???

In other words, no money no honey.

there was a recall on the fuelpump for the 250 in end of 2009 inform if yours did get it

Maksor, how do I find out that information about the recall. That could be something I'm very interested in. My MP3 was sold new in Thousand Oaks California, in 2010 I think. I do have the original bill of sale.

Phone Scooterwest with the VIN. They'll be able to tell.

Update :
Scooter sat for over a year..

1. drained and replace fuel.
2. removed injector. bench cleaned and tested. good spray pattern
3. Added fuel cleaner
4. Rode the scooter 50 miles with rapid throttle roll on.

A. Before the above.. The engine barely ran. It would NOT idle.. A throttle roll on resulted in in a BOG and die at all Rpm ranges..

B, After repairs.. With more miles and heat cycles it ran better and better..
The acceleration bog slowly moved down in the RPM band..

C. Current status. Repair input requested:
* It starts and runs MUCH BETTER.
* High rpm acceleration is gone
* Idle issue.
1. From Idle, a smooth acceleration is good...
2. From Idle, hard acceleration results in a BOG and Slight back fire and dying.. 50% if the time. Repair suggestions?
3. Idle. Dying.. The bike will sit and idle fine for 2-3 minutes.. Then the it will idle down an little, pop once and die.. It does this consistent pattern.. Repair suggestions?

Sounds like a fuel supply issue. Was the fuel filter replaced??? If not, I'd start there.

How's it going klwinter2? I think you and I are in the same boat except it sounds like yours is at least running. I have the 08 MP3 250 that the previous owner claims it only sat for 11 months. Sbaert thinks it sat for 11 years. The gas smelled horrible. I'm pretty sure I got at least 80 to 90 percent of the old stuff out and replaced it with ethanol free 90 octane with a good dose of Sea Foam but still nothing. I hope to pull the gas tank out in the next couple of days but all that tupperware has to go first. Man, what a nightmare. How's it going with your 500? I'm very curious what it's going to take to get this one on the road again. Tom

So after I replaced the fuel pump and filter (a real nightmare) I finally got gas to the injector. Still wouldn't start. After replacing the injector it will start with a lot of coxing but doesn't run for more than 20 to 30 seconds. I'm wondering if a throttle body cleaning is up next?

I also had a 2008 MP3 500 that I picked up from a tow away yard. No key, so I had to have the immobilizer re-virginized and get a new master key. After that it started and ran, but it would die at idle at lot. I found out there was a reflash of the operating system firmware, there was no record this one had been reflashed. The local dealer would not even try to get approval from Piaggio to do it without cost so I paid too much, but it solved the problem completely. Couple of hundred dollars for plugging it into their computer and updating the firmware. Pissed me off, but then it ran well.

That should be one of the first things to do!