Modern Vespa

I finally heard back from my dealer in Italy regarding the idle problem on my new LX125ie. (It dies at idle and is too dangerous to ride in that condition)

He said that there are a few not very easy setting calibrations which will have to be made and that my mechanic will have to receive accurate instructions.

He then stated that they may refer me to the technical department at Piaggio USA ... but he is still waiting to find out the final decision as to what should be done.

Obviously, I am quite concerned as my mechanic (although very competent and able) is not a Piaggio tech and does not have access to any sophisticated equipment. It's not looking very encouraging right now ... but all I can do is wait and see. In the meantime, the scooter sits looking rather forlorn under it's cover as it looks like it could be a while before this problem is solved. The battery is dead now so I guess I should put the charger on it. Unfortunately, I can't leave it on it at all times as the electrical cord is too exposed to the elements. Any suggestions? Should I remove the battery?

I have my nephew arriving on October 15th for a 2 and a half month stay and I can only hope we can get this sorted out by then as I have promised him the yellow scooter for the duration. I don't want to have to rent a scooter for him and there is no way he is using mine unless I have a back up!

All of that SUCKS. I have been following your topic for a long as you have

had the new scoot. Good luck with it.

Paul

This is why I have mixed feelings about the transition to EFI on the Leader 150 bikes. While I'd look forward to the more efficient operation, better economy, easier starting, slight power increase, etc., it does put one at the mercy of the availability of a trained tech with the requisite sophisticated equipment for much of routine engine maintenance and repair. With my carbureted LX, I can personally fix at home nearly anything that goes wrong with a relatively simple kit of tools.

TRAFFIC that does really suck Hope you get it fixe. SILVER good point. I wonder how many dealers actually have a CERTIFIED tech? This is going to be a major problem in the future i think.

There is absolutely no reason it should be doing this, unless of course there is a software problem in the ECU which could be solved by an update. I would check a few things. If it has a GTS like EVAP system (unlikely as its a Euro scoot isn't it?) remove it. Check the spark plug connection all the way from the cdi to the plug. Are the connections from the wire to the cap sorted and tight.

Finally, disconnect the battery, recharge and reconnect. This will reset the ECU if it is anything like the GTS. Check the plug gap. Another solution is to remove the plug and cross reference it to an NGK Iridium style plug. Just some suggesions, all inexpensive, which may or may not work.

Oh and the GTS has some sort of Allen key throttle stop. All the posts I have read say you shouldn't adjust this. If you look at the mechanism closely, all I can see is the same sort of throttle stop type screw, which does nothing electronic. It just winds the throttle off postion a little higher than normal. I did this to my old GTS and had a slightly higher idle with no ill effects. It was after I did this, that I saw all the posts with the dire warnings. As I said it didn't seem to change anything but the idle. Same effect as tightening a throttle cable IMHO. Not recommending this particularly, but if you have no access to a diagnostic machine, this may be the way to go, I expect flames for this....

Two more things. Check the Lambda connector on the exhaust is tight if it has one (edit: just read the manual, it does!). Unplug and reconnect. Make sure the air filter isn't strangled by over oiling.

On page 154 of the manual on Jim's site it gives other recommendations!

http://www.wotmeworry.org.uk/manuals/Vespa/LX125ie/LX125ie%20SERVICE%20STATION%20MANUAL.pdf

Engine stops at idle
ENGINE DOES NOT IDLE/ IDLING IS UNSTABLE/ IDLING TOO LOW
Possible Cause Operation
Presence of faults detected by the self diagnosis Pump relay
HV coil
Injector
Revolution timing sensor
Air temperature
Engine temperature
Ignition efficiency Spark plug
Ignition timing
Correctness of the parameters Throttle valve position sensor
Stepper
Engine temperature sensor
Intake air temperature sensor
Intake system cleaning Air filter
Diffuser and throttle valve
Stepper
Intake system sealing (infiltrations) Intake manifold - head
Throttle body - manifold
Air cleaner joint
Filter box
Fuel system (low pressure) Fuel pump
Pressure regulator
Fuel filter
Injector capacity

Thanks much Doug ... but I am going to wait until I hear what Piaggio wants me to do. If I start messing with it and do something wrong, I could void my warranty or at least risk putting the warranty into question.

What happened from the start was this:

When I first started it, the throttle stuck open. It was no big deal really as I could manually turn the throttle back. I just had to remember to do so rather than just releasing the throttle to let it idle. However, I figured at some point in time, I might get myself into trouble if I left it that way, (the urge to ride no hands was rather daunting and I admit giving into it at least once) ... so I had Wink readjust the three little set screws on the throttle handle. I have the billet aluminum handle grips which my dealer installed for me rather than the factory handle grips.

Once that problem was solved, the idle problem became very apparent. The engine dies at idle all the time. When I nearly got rear ended as a result ... I decided it was too dangerous to ride and contacted my dealer on August 24th. It's only been 17 days since he was notified and I know he is doing what he can to get it sorted out. It's just really unfortunate for me that I am so far away from any Piaggio techs.

I just hope that between Piaggio and my dealer, someone can get it sorted out by October 15th. If I have to rent a scooter for my nephew ... that would definitely tick me off. $300.00 per week for 2 and a half months ... yep, that would seriously piss me off. However, it's a case of wait and see what they have to say at this point. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't going to be all that hard to rectify and that my scooter will be operational in a matter of weeks.

Being in the Caribbean, I am used to waiting for things. I just don't want to have this thing drag on and on. So far, my dealer has been very responsive to my needs so I consider myself to be in good hands.

I understand your warranty concerns Liane, but checking the following bits won't affect it....

HV coil
Ignition efficiency Spark plug
Intake system cleaning Air filter
Intake system sealing (infiltrations) Intake manifold - head
Throttle body - manifold
Air cleaner joint
Filter box
Fuel system (low pressure) Fuel pump
Fuel filter

If your dealer can sort it out, good. Seems that intake manifold leaks are mentioned several times, so checking the air filter and airflow stuff from the filter box to the injector would be a good start. Oh and of course the High Tension wiring.

Thanks again Doug. I think Wink is coming up on the weekend for something unrelated ... I'll have him take a look. I am not knowledgeable enough myself to trust myself to do any of that stuff on my own. I am learning ... but some of that stuff is well beyond my knowledge level!