Modern Vespa

As most of you are aware, I purchased a 2007 MP3 250 from a Vespa dealer a couple of months ago. It was delivered to me without the red key (see previous post).
The dealer agreed to replace the ECU with a new one, at no charge, so I could have a red key to go with my scooter.
It has been at the dealer for 2 weeks now. I just called to check on it and he said that he cannot get the new ECU to code to the new red or new black key. He has put in the red key, put in the black key, then put in the red key again, as per instructions, but it will not code. He said he has done this a million times at different speeds of key swapping. The scoot will only start but not run. He left the battery unplugged for a day to reset itself, but that didn't help either. He said he called "the tech guy" who told him he has to keep trying until it works.
Is this really this difficult? Weather here has been fantastic the past two weeks (of course, since I don't have a ride...). I want my scooter back!
Anyone have any suggestions I might pass on to this guy so I can get back on the road?

Should not have to program the red key I don't think. The ECU comes with a chip to go in the red key and the chip matches the ECU. The red key is used to program the other key.

I know they put a different ECU on my 400 for troubleshooting a problem. They put the ECU of another bike on mine and swapped the chip to my red key as the other bike's key would not have turned in my handelbar. Pretty sure there was no key programing involved.

Maybee Cheeky Thomas or some other dealer can help.

Yeah! If anyone can help, I would be soooo happy! My dealer is at his wits end. And, 2 weeks without my scooter has made me grumpy! Just ask my husband!

You need cheekiethomas to reply here, hopefully he will see your post.

Wayne B

I understand your frustration. Came back from vacation to find a dead VR and haven't been able to ride in almost a month.

You might send Cheeky a PM to ensure he sees this.

Thanks. I did PM him earlier this afternoon. Hopefully he will know something to do!

Arrgghh...it will be 3 weeks this coming saturday since the dealer has had my scoot trying to replace the ecu. I have sent a PM to cheeky, but haven't heard back from him. I really want it back for the weekend so I can do some major riding over the holiday.
I just spoke with the dealer again, and he said he still cannot get the new ecu to code the keys! I told him I would really like the scoot back for the weekend ride. He said he could put it back together with the old ecu if I wanted.
I don't know what to do. He is replacing the ecu at no charge because he did not have a red key to give me when I took delivery. When I complained, he agreed to replace it and give me new keys at no charge.
Should I continue waiting? Is there someone else that I can have the dealer call to try to get this thing figured out? He said he keeps calling the Vespa tech guy (whoever that is) and he is doing exactly what he is being told. He then proceeded to tell me how much money he is out in parts and labor....

Do check which ECU he changed - the one to be changed is the one in the throttle body - and some dealers who haven't dealt with these before have been caught out as the tilt-lock control box is - yup, called an ECU by Piaggio as well, as is the seat remote... Oh, and the aerial/decoder also needs to be changed out, as that needs to be matched to the new master key. Perhaps he hasn't spotted that last one - but it's all in the manual, which I've just checked!

Finally got the scooter back today with much thanks to fellow board member pnydrvr.
He emailed me that he thought the saddle opening receiver control unit needed to be reset by, more or less, shorting it out. This deleted all the remote control codes stored in the unit.
I gave this information to the dealer, and that is what did the trick!
I drove the 2 hours back home today on the scooter in absolutely beautiful weather! It couldn't have been any better. It was like a dark and heavy cloud had been lifted from over my head.
Now I have a red key for my scooter, and all is well with the world!

Seems repairing or servicing mp3 in us takes much much longer.
How you guys deal with that?
As well as, closest shop takes 2 hours to get.

awsome , way to go pnydvr.

Glad your back on the road again hollybry

Bet your dealer was very happy also

It shouldn't have taken the dealer more than 1 day to do the replacement. He just didn't know how to do it correctly, so it took 3 weeks. I was not happy with it taking so long!
I do have a dealer that is only 20 minutes away, but I had to take to this particular dealer because that is where I purchased the scooter from, and he had to be the one to fix it.

Scooters have never gotten much support in the US. The manufacturers (Piaggio) don't make a big effort and most dealers treat scooters like a step child. Maybe as companies with a larger presence in the US, like Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, get more scooters in this country, their dealers will take a more serious interest. After all, if you sell a scooter for 8K USD or a "real motorcycle" for 8K USD, either way it's 8K USD in your account.

"It was like a dark and heavy cloud had been lifted from over my head."

That's bollocks - and I bet he told you that! Any authorised Piaggio dealer should take on warranty work, irrespective of where the machine was purchased.

Wrong end of the stick here... she purchased the scooter from a dealer who didn't give her the red key. She had to take it back there, as they were replacing the ECU etc to supply the red key. It wasn't a warranty job. I agree that warranty should be available anywhere.

No, he had to be the one to fix it. This wasn't a warranty issue. I bought the scoot from him a few months ago, but he sold it to me without the red key. At the time of purchase, I didn't know I needed a red key until I read about it on this website, manual and service manual (see topic "tell me just how screwed I am.." in an earlier post).
After I complained and wrote a biting letter, he agreed to replace the ecu and give me a new red key at no charge.
I just didn't know it would take 3 weeks for him to do.
But, it is all done now. If I run into issues in the future, I will take it to the closer dealer.

Ah, sorry, yes. Brain-fart.

Glad you got your bike back in time to enjoy our unseasonably beautiful weather right now, Holly!

Mark