Modern Vespa

I didn't ride for about 5 days, started bike, horn honked, idled fine but could not get it to run smoothly or go. This is classic tilt lock problem from what I read. So I go to dealer and talked to the mechanic before doing more. They are swamped with 29 bikes in shop.

He said it has been so hot here (over 100 each day for over 2 weeks) that it could just be low of fluid and told me to get DOT 4 to add to reservoir. He pointed me where to go and I went as directed -- SEE PICTURE below, marked with red drawn around it. I added fluid but did not help anything. (In the process I blew a fuse but replaced it.) I have been unable to get the tilt lock to unlock by two rapid right clicks. That just isn't happening so it looks like I'll have to tow it into the shop and God knows when I'll get it fixed.

Does anyone have a suggestion? Anything to try before I have it hauled in? Also, I've never had the bike carried by a carrier. Any suggestions? I hope someone can tell me I did something stupid like putting the fluid in the wrong reservoir but this is the only one I found where he told me it was supposed to be and the top said, "Use only DOT 4 from a sealed container," so I guess it is the right one.

Late edit: SOLUTION can be found at the end.

Thats the right container. I am not sure what the other problem is about, maybe someone smart here will know! I am wondering if the seat sensor has anything to do with it? Certainly will act bad if it thinks no one is in the seat.

I don't think it's a good idea towing your rig in the locked upright position. I trailered my MP3 when I moved and I believe I treated it as any normal scooter, MC, clamping the front end down with 2 tie down straps in the unlocked position. See what it says in your Owner's manual.

If all your weight isn't on the seat the rig won't go forward either. Maybe you should try it again running and give it some throttle. Just be sure your front wheels are pointing straight ahead or if it does go forward w/o unlocking you could fall over.

Jerry put the scoot on the center stand and then see if it will unlock. If it does I would suspect the seat sensor as going bad This can be bypassed if need be but you have to be careful when stopping and ensuring you lock it and unlock it manually every time. and not bump the throttle when running as the scoot can take off on you.

A bad seat sensor will prevent the tilt lock from unlocking. You could install a resistor (3 KΩ or so) to defeat the seat sensor for diagnostic purposes. Don't know why double-clicking the unlock button doesn't work, though, unless the switch or connector is bad.

there should be no warning lits on, except tilt lock, and maybe emergency brake if on. Agree to centerstand, sit on bike, start it and try to lean forward and reve it some. (front hand brakes on of course. But i am a newbie to issues.

Something else than seat sensor as a double click of switch should unlock it even if sensor not working. Horn sounding indicates loss of fluid. Seat sensor not related to horn sounding.

Jerry, did you check the fuse for the tilt lock? I had the symptom one time and found a blown fuse in the panel by the right foot.

You have to get this fixed for you to join us in Maggie Valley next month.

I thought it was 3 clicks to get it to unlock.

Its 2 clicks to override the seat sensor and deactivate the tilt lock. Do not trailer it with the tilt lock on. Don't tie down with bar ends you can damage the steering tube, its hollow. tie down using the gray bracket above the wheel. Compress the suspension, but not all the way down. The scoot will still sway so I tie down the back with cross straps. Also watch the front plastic when you compress the front. Depending on the trailer it may touch. I add blocking in front of the wheels to space it back from the front of the trailer. Also I clamp down one wheel to the front with straps. Good luck

If you mean "stearing tube" is the handlebar, then according to you I was lucky in 666 miles of towing my MP3 by trailer up and down hills that it still operates. Sounds to me what you did is the hard way.

yes you are lucky if you didn't bend that tube cause it is hollow that the handle bars attach to. The mp3's need to be tied down near the shock mounts there is a big heavy black bar that you can put a ratchet hook in then to what ever in the trailer. and of course no tilt lock on.

There is a thread here on MV MP3 about tie downs and one member posts about a very expensive fix. Not me. I cinch down above the wheel and also add a light tie down to the bars to control the sway. Just put light tension on it.

if you use the tie down point I just described and maybe the rear hand holds , 1 on each side you good. for front to back motion wrap one around the rear wheel and go straight back with it so the scoot won't creep forward.

You type faster than I. Here's the thread your picture came from. Also talks about the possible damage to the tube if you doing something wrong

Piaggio's "fix" for loose handlebar... recall?

here is a pic of the hollow steering tube so you can see how that can be a real weak point.

I would disconnect and reconnect the battery. It couldn't hurt.

I would think that could erase your ECU memory and you would at least have to reset all the functions between US & metric measurements.

I've towed my MP3 the MC conventional way 3 times(last time for 2,500 mi.) with no surprises, but next time I'll do it the right way too.

no reason to

One thing on the double click to undo the tilt lock. When I was having my cold weather problem that woould not allow the tilt lock to unlock I found that if I turned the key off and back on then IMMEDIATELY hit the tilt lock switch twice it would unlock. Apparently this allows the lock to deactivate before the ECU finishes booting and thus the ECU has not yet realized it thinks there is a problem and should not let it unlock. It has to be done before the dash screen reads normal.

Edited to correct error caught by ramblerdan

> turned the key off
Did you mean off, or on?

help please, my mp3 250 is sick need help. dealer is not much help. bike starts but has loud alarm from steering meckinism
throttle not at full. can someone help me please

This is most troubling, you desperately need somebody's advice on this problem with my motorcycle, I've had the bike since 2007 brand-new of the dealer showroom and I have not had any problems until recently, now I can't even seem to ride the bike even when the weather is perfect in Humboldt County. My problem seems to be the steering activation unit under the windshield, every time I turn the key on I get this all loud sound almost like an alarm coming from the electrical unit for the steering stabilizer, I called the dealership and of course they want money the dealership is five hours away from me so this is not a convenient trip, it would be wonderful if somebody else has had this similar problem and can contact me e-mail me with the answer, if not look like I'm going Santa Rosa which I don't want to do, is there anyone knowledgeable with the MP3 250 that can help me, desperately seeking advice.

the guys over at Santa rosa are some pretty good folks http://www.revolutionmoto.com/

oh please put in your location i you prfile and which scoot you have so people won't ask you those things all the time. it makes things easier to give you locale info from.

where are you? please put your location in your profile and your scoot as this makes it so much easier to give you locale info on stuff to help you out. also other members here might be able to help out better.

Thank you for your response, I wasn't putting down the guys at Revolution Moto in Santa Rosa but just didn't think they were giving much advice over the phone, I actually bought the bike from those boys and had excellent service with them, but getting help over the phone seems to be like pulling teeth, I live in Eureka Northern California, and my bike is a 2007 MP three 250 I E. I thank you for any help you may be able to offer.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. I finally figured out it WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. Talked to Fuzzy and became convinced it was electrical problem and it was. I messed with it for a couple of hours, blew a couple more fuses, found some wires that were not needed but were still connected (from a previous mod), rewrapped some wires and it is now working! Of course tomorrow is another day. Have to confess I went through 4 fuses in the process. If anyone is interested it is the 7.5 that is in the group by the right foot, second from the front of the bike.

Joy joy joy I got it I think I figured out the problem, after taking the windshield out checking the reservoir check in all connections checking all fuses and sitting on the bike I decided to take the handlebar switch part for the steering everything looked okay on taking it apart but after twiddling the lead and willing with it I put the thing back together again and started the bike and no alarm, after riding the bike and activating the suspension several times it does appear that the switch has some kind of problem internally, I think I might just order a new switch for that and see what happens. I sure am glad to be back on the road again this joy is at the end Of the Rd., ride on.

humboldtfrank, check some old threads on "dielectric grease" and use it when you replace the switch. While you are at it use it on all the handlebar switches then consider relays, fuses and other connections on the MP3. Can save a lot of aggrivation later.

Jerry, glad you got it going. My own experience last spring clued me in to the fuse. Just prior to that trip had read something here that sent me straight to the fuse when the problem happened.

Next stop Maggie Valley.

Yeah, he lives right next to the ocean(salt air) so will have electrical issues w/o the right grease.

I went for a ride of about 40 miles today without a problem so I'm cautiously happy. I have to chime in on the great advantages of Dielectric Grease. It would be a necessity near the ocean. I put it on all my fuses and connections. It is the best.