Modern Vespa

During the night, my bv 350 tipped over onto its left side. Would have been a soft landing, as it was parked in the yard. Rained a lot, figure the kickstand sunk into the dirt causing a tip over.

Started and ran as usual for 15 miles, then the fan kicked in. Stopped for a minute, re-started and the gages now didn't work. But the fan didn't come on. Couple more miles, turned off engine, then nothing when trying to restart. Pet carrier light comes on, but nothing else. Seems like the battery drained down. Checked battery connections, they are ok.

Any ideas while I wait for roadside assistance?

You'll need to check each fuse, then chase voltages around with a multimeter to determine where the music is stopping. Is it possible the stator got wet while the scooter was on its side, and how the components are corroding?

Was under a tarp, but the stator could have gotten wet. Battery is fine. Left brake switch may have been broken or disconnected, but wouldn't the right brake switch still work for start up?

Don't understand why it started and ran fine, then after 15 miles nothing. Makes me think something vibrated loose?

Kickstand safety kill switch? Spring on kickstand filled with dirt and not pulling kickstand back far enough to turn off safety?

Eliminate the simplest of things first. Could have also drained all of the fuel out of a vent?

The list goes on and on but as we compile the list we assign a rating of how simple to check and keep crossing stuff off the list until we find the cause.

Why is it whatever you are looking for is always in the last place you look? Because when you find it you quit looking. The only question is how long the journey will take and being calm and methodical while broken down roadside is a challenge.

The gauges and dash lights would at least come on even if the kill switch or kickstand switch were faulty. Too bad the gauges don't work or the voltmeter display could be used to check the battery. I think that one or more cells in the battery may have failed, possibly caused by the tip over or the rain. The pet carrier light would work even if the battery were low.

Good luck!

Battery tested fine. Otherwise all the symptoms of a dead battery, w the exception of the pet carrier light working. But for 15 miles it ran like usual.

Have you checked all the fuses?

Battery connection good no lights or gauges save pet carrier light must be fuse?

Moisture caused short?

Like this one?

Thanks JKJ and skids.

Found the blown fuse as the tow truck pulled up. I offered to walk to an AutoZone a little more than a mile away, but he suggested towing the scooter there in case a new fuse didn't fix the problem.

Well it did. For 15 miles anyway, when the dashboard went dead. Made sure not to turn the engine off till I got home. Then of course it would not restart. Back to troubleshooting. Does it make sense the problem is most likely behind the dashboard? That plastic is a pain to remove.

Did the same fuse blow again? Which fuse was it?

Could you tell us which fuse blew?

When this happened to me the cause was a short in the wires that connected a third-party brake light flashing module. It had been stuffed into an area somewhat jankily.

The stock wiring on your scooter is PROBABLY pretty sound and well-protected from chafe. Add-on stuff might have gotten pinched in the tipover (or the tipover may have had nothing to do with it). Since your scooter died when the fuse blew, my first investigation would be anything that might have gotten patched into the ignition circuit - heated grips, USB outlet, etc.

Fuse #5. Both times.

No add ons or mods on bike.

Gotta be caused by the tip over or moisture, I would think.