Modern Vespa

HELP

My 2004 ET4 stopped working tonight and all the lights are intermittently not working.

Here's the background, I don't know what is relevant, so I'm including everything, so please excuse the wordiness.

About 4 weeks ago, we had both tires replaced.
About 2 weeks ago, we heard a rattling noise like cans were being pulled behind the scooter. The noise quickly disappeared.
About 1 week ago, we put in too much gas and it came shooting out of the tank. Once the gas settled, it was about 4 inches from the top.
The scooter has been working fine other than any problems previously mentioned.
We have about 4,200 miles on it and have been using it daily for the past month.
Tonight, I used it to go to the gym and the store. Immediately after starting it at the store, I heard a slight clunk, the engine turned off, and all the lights went out ( including the dash, headlight, and tail light.)
I did not smell anything.

I was able to kick start it and drive it home. It started on the second kick (I've never kick started it before, so I really didn't know what I was doing).

Once home, I started testing it and here are the results of my "testing".

Without the key, the red light on the dash was blinking in about one second increments.

I put the key in and turned it to the right. The lights on the dash slowly appeared.

I pulled the left brake, and all the lights went out. The Vespa did not try to start. No noise was made. The lights took about 3 seconds to return. I was able to repeat this three times. The fourth time I pulled the brake, the lights stayed on.

I then pulled the left brake and pressed the black start button...and the lights went out. The Vespa did not try to start. No noise was made. The lights stayed out for a while (from 3 - 30 seconds) then turned on. I was able to repeat this procedure ten times.

I then turned the red kill switch off (meaning the Vespa should not start), and when I pulled the brake and pressed the start button, the lights stayed on. I was able to repeat this four times. Each time the lights stayed on and the Vespa did not try to start (as expected, since the kill switch was off).

I then turned the red kill switch on (meaning the vespa should be able to start), and the problems resumed.

I was able to repeat these problems with the master key.

Any idea what is causing this problem?

Thanks

Brian

Your battery is flat. Get it on a charger (preferably a proper battery tender made for motorcycle batteries) and re-test. If it fails again soon afterwards then your charging system is shot or the battery is duff.

Thanks for the suggestion, but...

I put the battery on the tender (designed or motorcycles and ATV's) and left it on until the battery was fully charged. It took less than two hours for the tender to register that it was fully charged.

After charging it, the Vespa performed exactly the same as it did before.

Since it didn't start at least once, does it still seem like it might be the battery?

Your advice and suggestions will be truly appreciated.

Thanks

Brian[/i]

Remove the battery and have it load tested at any autoparts store, your tender may be reading volts not amps and the batery is able to hold only a serface charge. you must start at the batery and Go from there. post how it works out. I will check back.
Good luck.

I had the battery load tested --- and it was as dead as a doornail. I purchased a new battery from OC Motorsports and I am in the process of charging it. I'll keep you posted.

Again, thanks for the advice!

SUCCESS!!!! Thanks for your advice.

I replaced the battery and the Vespa started up like normal.

Thanks again

Brian