Modern Vespa

Hey all, we just became the owners of a 08 MP3 500. Good new, while it was running it seemed to run great...but only for a very short distance. Bad news, the bike won't maintain a charge, left me stranded twice. We purchased it used from a dealer in Texas with only 1900 miles. I purchased a new battery and while riding lost the battery charge. The bike is now at a Vespa dealer near where we live; it and has been there for a couple of weeks. They are thinking it could be a bad staitor (sp). At any rate they have been trying to get in touch with a mechanic at Piaggio...so far no luck. Anyone else experience a problem like this? Luckily, the dealer from Texas is standing behind their sale and will paying the repair bill. I want to be sure that the issue is resolved before I bring it home, I don't want to have to take it back in another few weeks after riding and determining that the issue is un-resolved. Any suggestions that I might be able to pass to to the mechanics at the Vespa dealer...they are a relatively small dealership and I'm no sure how many MP3s they might have worked on...plus, we might be able to get it back sooner knowing there is a lot of mechanical expertise on this site.

Thanks for any input!!

I have to say - if any bike mechanic can't definitely state whether it is a bad stator or a bad regulator then they should be fired on the spot. This is junior physics...

Parts supply might well be a problem at this time of year though - but regulators are not Piaggio specific, and stators can be re-wound. Lack of initiative or just plain ignorance say I.

Did it die when idling or did it die when on the throttle?

Thanks for the replies...! I am a pretty mechanical myself, even as a female! But when it comes to electrical stuff, forget it. At any rate on the first trip, driving it around my long driveway, it died while running, I am sure the battery was quite low. I recharged the battery and the 2nd trip it was running until I shut it down,then it would not start. Only drove on the fully charged battery about 8ish miles. That is when I bought the new battery and again, it ran until I shut it off then would not re-start, again 8 miles or so. BTW, texas is also paying for the new battery. I feel very very lucky with this deal, at least they are covering all the parts and labor.

Again, very appreciative for any ideas...the mechanics may figure it out, I am just impatient! I don't think they would expect a "girl" to help them figure it out...they don't need to know I had fantastic help

cheers!
NVScoot'n

There is a hidden fuse that needs to be checked too. Have the mechanic open the access cover under seat and he needs to look to the right had side. There is a fuse holder in there withe 30 amp fuse. With out the fuse the charging system will not work.

Search "Hidden Fuse" and you should be able to come up with a better location description.

Wayne B

Hidden fuse photo here: Predelivery check list for the MP3 500 (Post 345706)