Modern Vespa

My lights won't come on unless the key is in the park position … which is signal with something like a J in the ignition..
Any idea ??
Maybe a bad relay ?

Moving to NSM, as I don't think there will be a lot of response in General Discussion.

Anyone?

Will need lots of pics of the whole Ape to help…


Just kidding, I just love the Ape and wanna see lots of pictures.

Jess what's NSM
I'm new here.
lol

There you go Friday lol

Not So Modern, the forum for geared vespas

Love it. They're so nerdy I love them. Hope you get the lights sorted. Sounds like it's a ground issue or something but I'm far from an electrical expert unless it comes to an outlet or switch in house. Someone will come along with better help than I can give though.

Did it ever used to light up in run?

What's the story of the Ape? Had someone restore it for you? Built it yourself? Bought as is? Do you know anyone handy with electrical?

Go to Mondoape.com
That's the modern Vespa equivalent for Apes. Every single wiring diagram can be found there as well. Most of the posts are in Italian BUT if you use google chrome you can easily translate the entire web page with a single click. Cheers!

Thanks for the comments
And yes … they used to work …
But it has been an ongoing issue since I got it … it used to work sometime or they would get brighter if I rev the engine
… now they don't work at all

I got it in fairly decent condition… I asked a local paint shop to paint it and I put some vinyl decals

I don't know anything about electric … just very very basic things
Like I installed a Stebel horn

It is typical to get brighter lights on rev.

I wonder if the key switch just had connection come loose?

Nice looking newer Ape! Is it 12V and does it have a battery? Are the lights switched by the ignition key or is there a separate switch? Did side markers & tail lights come on w/ ignition switch in P, but not the headlight when everything was working? Can you post up pics of front and back of your ignition switch?

Probably something simple like a loose power connection or a sketchy ground...

Yes it is a 12v
And it has a fairly new battery … it starts right up and everything….

The lights switch with a separate switch … it goes from the switch to the ignition …
The tail lights turn on when ingnition in park position
All the lights turn on with when switch is in park … even the headlights and dashboard … but no dash board or headlights while running … only directional and break lights
Could it be the light switch ?? How can I test it ??
Also the ignition in the back has a cover and not sure how to take it apart

Also I'm assuming that the relay is wired correctly… cause it does make the starter work

"All the lights turn on with when switch is in park" So all your lights work and wires are connected to ignition switch OK...

But the separate headlight switch used to work fine, then intermittent, and now nothing at all? Yeah, sounds like that switch is whack. Post up a picture of it and the connections in back if you can.

That relay is just for the heavy starter motor load, I believe it has nothing to do w/ your lights.

Pabs80

Check all your electrical connections! Make sure wire terminals are not touching metal parts or the frame. I can see evidence of a wire grounding out in one of your pictures. Look closely at the metal housing near the wire. Look for signs like melted plastic or insulation, and dark burn marks on metal or plastic. Make sure all plastic wire connectors are pushed up so that wire terminals aren't exposed.

Nice ride!

Hec

Thank you so much for pointing out the grounding .
I would have never noticed !! So now I can fix it

Here is the pic of the switch
I ordered a new one … I hope that fix it.
The switch should pop up if I push it from behind … right ?

That electrical tape is also suspect. Remove it and see what lies underneath. You may find a poor wire splice there. Try this. Take a piece of wire with both ends stripped back of insulation. Shove one end of the wire into the center socket of the light switch wiring plug and the shove the other end into one of the outer sockets. Start the engine and see if your light turn on. Repeat the test using the other outer plug socket. If the light works then your switch is bad. I am guessing that the center socket provides power to the switch and one outer socket activates the low beam and the other activates the high beam.

Good luck!

Hec

We sell modern APE PIAGGIO. The lights are connected to the switch in order to save battery. You can forget to turn the lights off and then you will have some problems. Best thing to do is to check and clean every connection in your unit.

Lights on the Ape 50 should run on AC while engine's running. Only the Parking position should run of the battery. What's with the white / black and white wires?? Are they connected together?? Seems like someone messed with the wiring. There's a chance the AC system / regulator is faulty so they decided to run the lights of the battery??

Maybe find someone who knows Apes / Vespa electrical systems. They're not rocket science but require some basic knowledge of how they work and of their quirks...

Well I followed the advice .. I did the jumper and uncovered the electric tape

Nothing behind the electric tape … lol
I don't even know why was there :/
Pics bellow
I tried every combination with the jumper cable while I have the ape running and no lights came on …
They do still work when in park position (ignition)
It makes my head hurt 😔

Do you have a multimeter? If you do, see if you have any power to any of the three terminals in wiring plug you tried to jump out earlier. Place one probe of the multimeter in each socket of the plug with the other probe of the multimeter against something metal on the frame for a ground connection. A good ground could be a bolt or screw that is unpainted and is screwed to the metal frame. Start the engine and turn on the lights. If you get 12V then the bulb or wiring to the bulb is suspect. If you do not get 12V then the ignition key switch or wiring from the ignition key switch is suspect.
You mentioned that the lights came on in park position. Did all lights come on to include the headlight? If they did, then it sure looks like you have an issue with the ignition key switch.

Keep us posted!

Hec

Yes in park position the tail lights and headlight come on
They don't switch from high to low beam though

Signal lights don't come on in park … not sure if this is relevant

The switch in the pic is the only switch to turn the lights on … so if I disconnect that harnes for the switch I no longer can operate or and off … or did you mean measure in then lightbulb end of the wire ??

Good info! Do the lights turn on in Park with the engine running and not running?

Hec

Find someone to work on it. The main lights run off the engine while it's running (AC powered) not the battery. There's probably a problem on the AC side, regulator is faulty, blown bulbs, etc. From your description the Parking position works as it should…

Hec
Engine not running in park … you can't start the engine in park position

Yeah the problem is hard to find someone willing to work on it
:/

What regulates the ac power ?? Is that something I can replace ?
There are not that many parts in this thing lol

Look up the local scooter club in Tampa. I think they are called Tampa Two Stroke? I'm sure some of those people can help you. Electrical issues can be difficult to diagnose, especially from afar. Best of luck to you.

Good info! That tell us that your Headlight is connected to a 12V power supply coming from the battery and not the Stator. You are going to need access to the Ignition Key Switch and it's wire connections. Disconnect the battery and remove the switch cap from the backside of the ignition key switch. Hopefully we can see the wire connections at the switch. Post some pictures of the backside connections of the ignition key switch if you can.

I am hoping it looks like this!

https://www.scooterwest.com/ape-ignition-switch.html

Hec

Update !!
I took the ignition switch and all cables seem good

I tried to measure voltage at the head light and I got nothing … but not sure if I did right … the glass came apart … which was a bummer but I glued back together but give me time to inspect the light bulbs
The head light bulk big one is fine … wire it directly to the battery and lit up

I put it in park … the little light bulb came on …. But when I remove the big bulb the other one shut off…
So it got me thinking …. Is there a possibility that there is something wrong with the little bulb that prevents the big one from getting power ?

Here are the pics

Great work! Now we know that you have a parking bulb and a separate headlight. I am guessing that the headlight runs off the Stator and the small parking bulb runs off the battery. If this is the case you will need to test to see if the lighting coil in the stator is producing voltage. Can you confirm the headlight bulb is good? Is there a possibility the headlight circuit has a fuse in it that could be blown? That's about all I can come up with without a wiring diagram.

I checked here but the APE 50 TL1 manual had a wiring diagram for 6V. Don't know if it applies to yours.
https://www.mondoape.com/mondoape/manuali-ape-50-tl1-tl6/


Hec

I feel the more I know the less I know !!
The light bulb works
I connected it directly to the battery with some wires … it light up no problem !!

I have followed te wires and I have not found any fuse :/
Maybe is hidden somewhere??

What's the stator lol and where is it ??
lol

Wouldn't the stator power the directional
They work no problem :/

Some people have mentioned ac controller

Where is that ? How can that be tested ?