Modern Buddy

My 170 wouldn't turn over a couple of weeks ago- he was due for his 1,800-2.000 service anyway so towed him in. The dealer says he started right up ??? Also that with a 170 you're not supposed to turn on the power button right away but turn key to "on" position for a couple of seconds before firing up. News to me.

I've been doing as prescribed but this morning I had the same scenario- not turning over. The dealer is closed on Mondays (and I am not overly fond of them anyway). Any ideas or insight would be most welcome:)

For purposes of clarification, when you write "turn over", do you mean "engine cranks but does not start up" or "engine does not crank when starter button is pushed"?

The 170 is fuel injected. When you switch the key on, the CELP light should light briefly on the dash while the engine computer starts up. Once that light goes out, the computer is ready to go. The only other item is the fuel pump. Not sure how long it takes the Buddy 170s fuel pump to prime the fuel injection rail. I'd guess that it could take 3-5 seconds more after the CELP light goes out. If the bike has been sitting for more than a day or two, fuel pressure in the system will bleed off a bit and it needs to be brought back up for the injector to fire properly.

Finally, a silly-sounding question: If this is a no-crank issue, which brake lever do you pull when starting? A bad brake light switch could cause a no crank problem.

thanks for responding.

Turn over as in "engine cranks but does not start up"

I didn't know I had to wait for the light to go out before starting up, that seemed like a battery waster but I'll give that a try. I'd usually wait maybe 2 seconds. I wish that info was in the manual!

I hold both brakes in when pushing the start button.

I'm gonna go give him another try and report back, thanks again.

Not sure about the FI Buddies, but my FI Kymco Like is supposed to have a sensor that doesn't allow it to start if the side stand is down (not the center stand). I say supposed to, because mine starts with it down, I guess the switch is busted.

Ok so I tried again, waited for engine light to go off before pushing start button- nothing. Did it again, this time waited a little longer after light went off- success!
Not sure why this had onky started now after a year. Feel like a dunce for not knowing before. Thanks for the help!

Also- I always start with the kickstand down, letting him warm up while I put on my stuff

I'm going to point to the fuel pump needing time to pressurize the fuel system and not having enough pressure for the injector to fire properly.

If this is a regular occurrence now, there may be a fuel pressure check valve that's malfunctioning and letting fuel injection pressure bleed off excessively when the system is turned off. I'd have to look at a FI-system diagram for a Buddy to validate this, but that'd be my hunch as to what's going on.

Tomato Bisque wrote:Also- I always start with the kickstand down, letting him warm up while I put on my stuff

Do you mean the centerstand or the sidestand? Very risky practice to start a bike and let it idle while on the sidestand.

Dooglas wrote:

Tomato Bisque wrote:Also- I always start with the kickstand down, letting him warm up while I put on my stuff

Do you mean the centerstand or the sidestand? Very risky practice to start a bike and let it idle while on the sidestand.

Yep, I post this not just because I took the time to make it but because it's all too true.

Never run a scoot on the kickstand, only on the center stand. I've heard wayyyyyy too many "I just left it on there for a minute…" stories. There are plenty on MB!

And, yeah, all those scoots that are supposed to not run with the kickstand down do. Go figure!

Oh dear

Also, if the dealer didn't put a new spark plug in for you, get that done. when ANY bike gets hard to start, always replace the plug first.

On mine I turn the key to on, wait for the efi warning light to go out and the fuel pump to stop running ( pretty easy to hear) pull either brake lever and punch the starter button-- never fails. Usually the pump stops at the same time as the light goes out.

Check your kill switch.
You may have to switch it back and forth.
We have had a few brand new Buddies with bad kill switches.

Ok listen to this reply. I have a 170 and know what you are going through. I have now figured out how to get mine to start. Before you turn the key on already have the brakelever squeezed and start button pressed. Then turn the key on it will work.

An explanation is the voltage drops to much after it primes the fuel pump. So the problem is in the computer program. Some kind of no start unless it sees X amount of volts type of crap.

Thanks everyone for feedback. Just wanted to follow up on this great mystery...
turns out it needed a battery. That simple!

The first time I had trouble turning the Bisque over I called the dealer and asked if it could be the battery, he said no way and to tow it in. I got the 2k service. He made me feel silly saying I just didn't know how to start it properly- pausing for the light to go out. So I started it up that way for a few weeks but noted it didn't have the same pep.

Then he decided enough's enough and wouldn't turn over no matter what I did. I took it to a different shop and was shocked when they said it was the battery. How could that be? I wondered as I just had it serviced at the dealer? Well it was cause now he's starting up like a champ.

Occam's razor folks. The End.