Modern Vespa

hi,i,m new to the forum and new to the fuoco.my partner recently bought a 12 month old fuoco with aprox 5k miles on the clock.it ran wiyhout a problem at first,but recently while commuting along the m62 it started misfiring and died on her.when the recovery man arrived it started and ran perfectly.naturally this knocked her confidense in the bike so i ran it round for afew days to check it out.it ran ok for a few days until without warning it lost aprox 25% of its power but kept running.istopped the bike and restarted it ,it ran fine.we returned it to the dealers they checked it out and said it needed a new ecu.one was fitted still the same,they have had a piaggio rep look at it and are now going to fit a new seat.i,m not conviced i think its a fuel prob,every time its happened fuel guage is just above red mark,plus it seems to use a lot of fuel.anybody out there with any ideas would be greatly apreciated,the dealers have had it over month now,regards legbender:(

Try removing the evaporative canister.

He's in the UK, no Evap Canister

Wayne B

The replacement of the seat makes no sense, once the front end is unlocked the seat sensor is out of the picture.

Wayne B

Change out your spark plug - I have the same kind of issue and inevitably when it starts doing that mess the spark plug is fouled. I am no mechanic, but it seems to me that when it happens there is something that is responsible for the spark plug fouling. I have a really odd smell when I crank it if it is getting rough. I'm on my third set of spark plugs in 6,000 miles. And yes Wayne, as soon as my new tire arrives I am going to ask the dealer if I can disconnect the evap canister

I was restraining myself from saying anything

Wayne B

I didn't know you had it in you.

Hi, I'm not really that far from you

Just to give you and indication I get 65/70 mpg which equates to around 125/140 miles to a tank full, that is filling it to the brim and untill the red light comes on.

Faulty 'Kill Switches' are a known prblem as well. to test it, while the engine is running press the switch towards the 'Run' position to see if it cuts out, if it does it's faulty (this does not show up on the dash lights as the switch bieng active). You can either replace it or strip and clean it (what I did).

thanks for everyones help so far,carolyns fuoco gets about 80 miles from topped up to red line and she doesn,t thrash it.i think the dealer has checked the kill switch.when the scoot looses power it doesn,t misfire or judder just slows down.i wondered at first if the brakes had started binding but everything was ok.new seat should be fitted this week,i,ll let you know if it cures the prob.if anyone would like to talk please text your no. to 07832234620 and i,ll ring you back when work allows.thanks to everyone again regards howard

Wayne B

legbender,

When she fills it she should get 10 ltr in, but if the nozzle is left fully in much less. So if she is using 10 ltr of petrol and only getting 80 mile out of it something very wrong.

I've hesitated to reply so far as the symptoms are not something I've heard of before. There's certainly something up with the ECU/injection regime. Probably not the ECU itself (replaced) but possibly a duff sensor or injector or throttle body.

I'm disturbed it's stayed so long in the workshop - it should have been sorted by now. I have to say that I can name four dealers local to me who would never allow this to have dragged on so long without some resoulution. Is the OP certain the dealer is in fact an experienced Master dealer?

hi again,been working away for a couple of days,heres the latest.carolyn rang the dealer friday,the bike/trike is still not working correctly,a new wiring loom is to be fitted on monday.i,m not convinced.i,m with you jim probably a sensor or prob with cat.the bike is doing around 80 miles for approx 8 litres petrol judging by what carolyn has told me.shes not a novice she also owns a yam 200 and a 1200 sportster and finds the consumption of the gilera very high.regarding the dealer,he stocks the full range of piaggio scooters and bikes and to my knowledge theres been a bike shop there for years but i,m wondering if he,s just bought the place.he,s open tommorow so if i get time i,m going to visit and i,ll let you know the outcome.if i,m not happy with his response,the state of his workshop etc.should i get in contact with piaggio uk.your advice would be appreciated,thanks howard

10 miles to the litre is very heavy on fuel for a 500 - and it's anything in the whole injection system that can affect this. The ECU would be the usual first suspect (extra spurious pulses to the injector) - but the injector itself could be faulty or any of the sensors that control how much fuel is injected. Could be as simple as the engine temperature sensor (which is separate from the one that shows on the dash) - or something else.

All shown starting at page 203 of the workshop manual:
http://www.wotmeworry.org.uk/manuals/Gilera%20Fuoco/

just a quick update,got the bike back,did about 60 miles and it ran perfectly,next job when time allows is to fill it to the top and see what mpg were getting,anyway thanks for everyones help so far,i will let you know the outcome,regards howard

Please let us know what the "FIX" was? Just good general knowledge to build up.

Anyone know legbender or what the resolution was?