Modern Vespa

Hey everyone,

I just picked up a used 2009 MP3 400ie that's been sitting for 4 years. I've replaced the fuel and battery, and I can get the accessory power to power up. However, the scooter won't start when I press the ignition button. Nothing happens.

I've tried everything I can think of: checking fuses, making sure the parking brake is off, and making sure the brake lever is pressed when starting. The kill switch is working properly.

Any suggestions on what to check next? Thanks in advance!

You might be pressing a brake lever - but is the brake light coming on? No power to the brake light = no power for the starter relay.

The brakes do not come on when pressed, I think your right about the starter relay. Just double checking, is the relay under the seat on the right side? Also, any leads on where to find a new one?

EDIT

I just bought this, going to try it out

https://scooterpartsco.com/300-piaggio-c-801_836/starter-relay-for-piaggio-mp3-500-1d001697r-p-27752.html

What jimc says is if you press any of the brake levels and the light don't come is very possible that the microswitches that activate the brake light are damage and if this is the situation the starter relay don't activate as a security in the scooter.

Check first the microswitches (if one works you can check) and after that try to start.

you wasted your money on the relay.

read Jims post above.

ITS THE MICRO SWITCHES at the brake levers.

those micro switches do double duty and not on enable the scoot to start but they also activate the brake lights.

How do I check the micro switches?

you already did when you said the brake lights don't work.

order 3 new switches , 2 to install and 1 spare. scooterparts has them for $8 each

they are simple momentary switches, on/off

they are a normal replacement item that are know to go titts up.

unscrew and unplug old one takes about 40 sec.

Very good, I'll try it out and report back.

Did you check fuse no.8, by your right foot? And not just by looking at it? Those fuseholder connections can corrode as well, they're not exactly in a 'good place'. I bet it's the switches though.

I keep getting asked why both switches fail at once. They don't! If the right one fails first, you're unlikely to notice, unless you're unusual and use the right one to help start. Then when the left one fails...

That why I recommend doing the turn signal beeper/buzzer mod, whereby the beeper is grounded via the output of the switches to the brake lights. This means it gets muted when the brake lights are on.

If it still beeps with one side lever but the other does the muting OK, then that switch has failed.

If it never beeps, the brake lights have blown.

Hmm thats a good point about the fuses. I did check them, none were blown, but it's wouldn't hurt to clean the whole terminal with contact cleaner.

Hey All - update time.

I did order new brake switches, but then took a chance at cleaning the existing ones and it worked! I dissembled the brake switches, rinsed them with contact cleaner and took a cotton swab to the contact points with 99% isopropyl alcohol for good measure. There was a lot of gunk, built up dust.

Once I re-installed the brake light switches they worked and my MP3 started right up! I just did an oil change and she's running very smooth. Still have to replace the spark plug, coolant, brake fluid, brake pads, rotors, tires, headlight bulbs, but after all that I think it'll be good to go.

Another thing I'm trying to figure out it the suspension lock. The motor sounds like it's doing something, but it doesn't lock.

Those brake switches are garbage and die all the time. They're about $12 each so i buy 2 for both sides.