Modern Vespa

My 2018 GTS has been sitting for a while with the Battery Tender connected. When attempting to start, the dash lights just turn off and on rapidly but the starter won't engage.

Voltage with a smart charger reads 13.1VDC and says 100% charged?

Help! Could the battery still be the problem? It is about 4 years old...I suppose I could just change it and see as I'm probably due to change it anyway.

dash lights going off sounds like battery.

So check the voltage *while cranking*.

My initial thoughts as well. Guess I'll go pick one up in the morning and will report back if this solved it. THANKS!

Just to add more information, when the starter button is depressed, the headlight and dash all flash at about three times per second in sync, even after the start button is released. The starter button latches on this on-off sequence, and something is buzzing at the same frequency from the engine bay also. It continues until I release the brake lever. Never heard of anything like this.

maybe starter relay

OK, it was the battery. Although over 3 years old and on a tender, showing 13.1 vdc static it obviously didn't maintain its amperage under load. Probably should have tried a jump with my LI-ion jumper pack that I always carry!

Oh well, back on the road! Thanks for your thoughts.

Mark