Buddy doesn't start, then does

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 2:31 am

Hello all,

So now that the weather's gotten much colder, and because I make a lot of shorter trips on the buddy, I've been putting the battery on the tender for a few hours every few days or so. The last couple of times I've done this though, the EMS check light has come on as normal, but it has initially not started when I pressed the starter button. It doesn't turn over or make any sounds at all, it just acts as if I haven't done anything. So I usually just turn the key to off and then on again, wait for the EMS light to turn off, then try starting again. Sometimes it starts up right away like nothing, other times I have to turn the key off and on 1 or 2 more times, but it always ends up starting eventually.

I assumed maybe a bad connection at the terminals when I've put the battery back after charging, but I've checked this on 2 of the occasions, and they've looked fine to me; the bolts are screwed in tight and everything. So any idea what could be happening here?

Any and all advice is much appreciated.

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:10 pm

Try flipping the kill switch off and on next time.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:19 pm

And if that helps, put some dielectric grease in the switch for the future.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:29 pm

Dooglas wrote:And if that helps, put some dielectric grease in the switch for the future.

I've tried this and it hasn't worked. Or at least, it didn't the first time. The last couple of times I've done that in addition to turning the key, so I guess I can't say with 100% certainty which is the one that's making it then work.

That said, I'm less concerned with how to troubleshoot it, being that fiddling with the key/kill switch seems to eventually get it to start, and more concerned with solving whatever the actual issue is. Anyone have any ideas?

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 4:02 am

I'm not a mechanic, so I might be way off base, but is it possible that the fuel pump is pumping up, and is ready to go by the 2nd time you try?

My Scarabeo 500ie has had this issue from day one: it just sits and cranks the first time I hit the start button. The next time I hit the starter button it takes right off...when warm it starts on the first try (warm as in, I rode it an hour or so ago, not as in it's summer outside

).

The only way I can speed up the process is to crack the throttle slightly, then hit the starter.

Most Scarabeo's don't have the same issue mine has, but some do (and there is a known issue that I have had fixed, with no different results).

So, maybe yours is having the same issue my Scarabel has....?

Good luck!

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:50 pm

michelle_7728 wrote:I'm not a mechanic, so I might be way off base, but is it possible that the fuel pump is pumping up, and is ready to go by the 2nd time you try?

No, unfortunately it doesn't crank at all when this happens. It just acts like I haven't done anything at all- no sounds, nothing.

I did discover that it does in fact appear to be the kill switch and not the ignition that needs to be cycled, as that worked the last time I tried it. At any rate, I'm a little surprised that no one knows why this might be the case and/or if there's a relationship between the problem and my recent battery-charging. It just seemed very coincidental, but I suppose it's possible.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:15 pm

One way or another no cranking or sound means no power to the starter/ignition. It could just be a loose connection in the starter button or the kill switch.

It's probably not related to charging unless you somehow caused a short in the wiring. But if you used a good charger/tender, this is very unlikely and you'd probably have blown a fuse in the process.