Modern Vespa

just heard from dealer 2008 mp3 just at 703 miles....says i need a new fuel pump cost $970 installed hmm... bought 2 months ago with 200 miles on it ..... its now 14 months old do u think piaggio would help..... do they have a usa website for cust. service ....has anyone had this problem????

Biggest problem is you are not the original owner, that would make it a little easier. But that said, I would call Piaggio Customer Service and ask if they will cover it and have the dealer push some too, if they will. If nothing else, ask Piaggio if they will cover the part as a last resort, that doesn't cost them as much. Be very nice and firm, that this is an obvious manufacturing defect. You are going to have to take the bull by the horns to get this covered, but it can be done.

Look in your manual for the number. Some one on here might post a better contact number.

Have you owned any other Piaggio Products? Vespa, Aprilia. Let them know if you have.

Wayne B

I am guessing this might be the reason you stalled out a while back?
If so, more than a few of us have some stalling issues, and it might explain them. Sorry for the trouble you are having. Keep us posted.

$970? Someone's pulling your leg, big-time.

EUR136 - so about USD200 for the pump. 30 mins max to swap it out.

Part no. 18:
http://www.easyparts.nl/showdrawing/2510/42430/-/0-968-1-m415-m2618-s2510-d42430/Brandstoftank.html

I had my fuel pump replaced and the bill was about $550.00. They have to take the bike almost all apart to get to the gas tank..

Dontcha just love having jimc around to keep our mechanics straight!!! That would have been a huge rip off.

There's loads of plastic to pull off - but it doesn't take long. Unless it's their first one of course, and they don't have a clue...

That is what I will be doing in a few weeks, pulling all the plastic off to run wiring and do a bunch of mods. Step through plastic too.

Sound like lots of fun.

Wayne B

Do you not have a 2 year warranty?

Standard warranty in the US/Canada is only one year, and they can buy an additional two years. This used to be the case in the UK until 2005 - but it was only GBP30 for the extra two years! I believe it's an order of magnitude more than that in the US, so not a huge uptake.

My dealership wanted an extra $550 for the 2 additional years. Of course a couple of months after purchasing my scoot Piaggio was giving away the extended warranty.

It si hard to say if Piaggio will cover this since it is out of warranty. Plus a vehicle that is 14 months old and has 700 miles on it. Bad gas is not a defect of the manufacturer... You will be lucky if they cover it.

Good Luck.

Jon

How does bad gas take out a fuel pump? You can pump 100% water through it and not effect the fuel pump. And who said anything about bad gas

700 miles is only 6 tanks of gas, I think if he is nice and pushes they will cover it.

Wayne B

700 miles = 6 tanks of fuel
700 miles divided by 365 = 1.91 miles a day
Gas goes bad after two weeks of non use of the vehicle. It actually separates and can clog and damage a fuel pump and or carb. Bad gas is not good for fuel pumps. how is that a defect of the manufacture? I use to work on motorcycles a looong time ago and this is always been a common problem with riders who do not ride their motorcycle/scooter for a long period of time. 9 times out 10 the manufacture will deny the warranty claim. Maybe Piaggio is different? Good luck


Does gasoline really go "bad" if you leave it unused for a period of time? Some people are convinced this is just another urban legend, and that people who worry about "old gas" and spend money on fuel stabilizer are wasting psychic energy as well as cash.

But in fact, gasoline can degrade over time. That can lead to a number of problems, ranging from hard starting, to rough running, to no starting at all.

Here's Why


Unlike crude oil, gasoline is a highly refined product brewed to a certain chemical composition with very specific characteristics. One characteristic of gas is volatility, a term used to describe how easily and under what conditions the gas vaporizes so it can be efficiently burned in your car's engine.

The most highly volatile components in gasoline also tend to evaporate over time. As they do, the remaining fuel's volatility and ability to combust properly degrades. The less volatile the fuel, the less effectively it burns in your engine. The result is diminished engine performance. Your engine may still start and run, but it probably won't run as well.

The good news is, once the old gas has been consumed and the tank is topped off with fresh fuel, the problem should cure itself. Evaporation of volatile compounds can be limited by making sure the gas cap is secured tightly. For the same reason, be sure all portable gas containers are sealed tightly as well.

A More Serious Problem: Oxidation


Hydrocarbons in the gas react with oxygen to produce new compounds that eventually change the chemical composition of the fuel. This leads to gum and varnish deposits in the fuel system.

These deposits and impurities can clog up gas lines and filters, as well the small orifices in a carburetor and the even smaller orifices in a fuel injector and fuel pump. Removing these deposits can be expensive and your vehicle may not run at all or run very poorly until they are removed.

Water Contamination


Condensation can form inside your gas tank and lines from heat cycling. Fuels such as E85, which have a high concentration of ethanol alcohol, may be even more susceptible to water contamination, as ethanol likes to draw moisture out of the surrounding air.

Water contamination can be a problem at gas stations with light traffic due to a slightly different kind of heat cycling. The underground storage tanks experience increases and decreases in temperature. This can cause moisture to form and contaminate the fuel. When you fill up at such a station, you're pumping in the water along with the gas. Such low-traffic stations may also have other contaminants in their underground storage tanks, such as rust. They are best avoided when possible.

Water, of course, does not work too well as a fuel in an internal combustion engine.

It will cause hard starting and rough running until it's purged from the system. It can also contribute to internal rusting of the gas lines and tank. The resultant scale and small particles can create a true nightmare, sometimes requiring the replacement of the gas lines and tank at considerable expense.

You can reduce the chances of water contamination by keeping your car's gas tank as close to full as possible, especially if the vehicle is going to be left idle for an extended period.

How Do You Identify Bad Gas?


One way is to eyeball it. Oxidized fuel often turns darker over time and may even smell sour. You can check stored gasoline by pouring some into a clear glass container and comparing it side-by-side with known fresh gasoline. If your old sample looks noticeably darker than the fresh gas, you have strong evidence the gas has gone bad.

How Long Does it Take for Gas to Go Bad?


That depends on a number of factors. For one, it's hard to know how old the gas you just bought actually is. It may be fresh from the refinery, or it may be a month old already by the time you top off your tank. Some gasoline is mixed with better or more oxidation inhibitors than others.

It's a good rule of thumb to avoid leaving gas in your tank or a storage container for more than a coupe of months, if you can avoid it.

And if You Can't?


If you know gas will sit in your tank or a storage container for a couple months, then it's a wise move to buy some fuel system stabilizer and mix it in with the gasoline. Do it before you put the vehicle into long-term storage or before leaving your lawn equipment fuel containers sitting for the winter. The stabilizer helps prevent oxidation, the biggie that can turn gas into garbage that gunks up your system and leads to expensive repair work.

Using fuel system stabilizer for extended storage is preferable to draining the tank and leaving the system dry. This can cause rubber hoses, gaskets and seals to dry-rot and crack, possibly leading to leaks and even a fire. In addition, a dry system can expose the insides of metal fuel lines and your gas tank to air and moisture, which can lead to or accelerate the formation of rust.

Fuel system stabilizer is not a cure-all and it doesn't last forever. It must be mixed with fresh gas before the vehicle is stored, not added to already old gas. It can slow down the oxidation process and keep gas fresh for as long as 12 to15 months. If you're going to leave the vehicle parked for longer than that, you may want to drain the tank and refill with fresh fuel before returning the vehicle to service.

What? Don''t know where you get your info, but it is incorrect. Fresh gas out of the pump at a Top Tier Gas Station should last at least 6 months with no issues. My van gets filled up about once every 2 months at this point. Actually don't think I have filled it up this summer. Need to get the Sunoco bill out and check.
You do understand suppliers put additives in fuel to stabilize the octane rating and increase the life.
Now if you are buying your gas at the off brand place down the road or Sams club, maybe, the price is cheaper, but there is a reason for that. They are getting older "Stale Fuel". This is fuel that is old production, the price is reduced and it is sold to discount stations.

That is why I only use Top Tier gas in any of my vehicles.

Also, the bike is one year old with 6 tanks of fuel. That's 12 divided by 6 = 2. So at least every 2 months it got filled up. So 2 months is not enough time for fuel go bad enough to ruin and fuel pump. Hell they sit on the show room floor longer than that waiting to be sold.

Wayne B

Wayne

I like everyone else here gets their information from the web.


go to this link
http://www.justfuckinggoogleit.com/


Jon

HaHa,

Well, I learned what I know in the class room, 2 years Automotive Training Northern Va. Community Collage one of the top Automotive Training Programs in the country, many classes through GM & Suzuki Motorcycle Training.

Wayne B

Glad to see you have a sense of humor. I have learned everything I know about motorcycles as a self taught student for the last 15 years. I am still a student as there is always something new to learn. I do not rest on my laurels because of my previous academics. Well no need to rob this thread I hope that Steve can get some help with his fuel pump as I think the dealer is asking way to much for the job, however once you are out of warranty the manufacture rarely steps up to the plate to help. Just my experience with other vehicles I have owned.

Best

Jon