Modern Buddy

I have only 700 miles on my Buddy - I am already having issues. My blinkers now won't blink, my horn has half it's volume, my head light is dim and the automatic starter doesn't work. I have to kick start it.

does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you,

Craig

Craig wrote:I have only 700 miles on my Buddy - I am already having issues. My blinkers now won't blink, my horn has half it's volume, my head light is dim and the automatic starter doesn't work. I have to kick start it.

does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you,

Craig

take it back to the dealers. i'm assuming you bought it new, so its still under warranty.

Craig wrote:does anyone have any ideas?

Absolutely! You need to bring that scooter to the dealer and have them service it under warranty.

-John

P.S. It sounds like you have a bad ground connection. If so, they'll find it quickly and it'll be no prob to fix.

I had the same problem.

The screw came loose off one of the battery posts.

I would have included a picture unfortunately it's late and my Buddy is covered. The battery is located under the floor mat. Someone will probably get a picture up for you.

I have moved and live about 600 miles from the original dealership - but let me check my battery connection.

I agree. With that many things acting up, I would check for ground connections. I also agree that checking the battery connections first is smart. Does anything electrical work as it should?

Battery

Craig wrote:I have moved and live about 600 miles from the original dealership

Oh snap. Is there another dealer near where you live now? What you're looking for is a loose connection right at the battery. We've seen it before...

As of today I can no longer kick start it. AAAARG! I may need a whole new batttery - the connections were fine. Where do i get this kind of battery?

Batteries Plus?

The battery doesn't have anything to do with the ability to kickstart it. It only affect the electrical accessory stuff (electic starter, headlight, etc.) If you can get it kickstarted and the battery is kaput, it will run, but no headlight, 12v outlet and whatnot.

Scooterworks sells new batteries, but I'd order a battery tender junior from them first.

-jetboy

I still am not convinced that your battery is dead, or if it is, that the battery is at fault. Electrical problems can be difficult, even for a pro, to diagnose with certainty. Is there a Genuine dealer near you? I'd still recommend you bring this to them if possible.

That said, according to the version of the manual we have in the Technical Library on this site, the Buddy 125 battery is a Yuasa YTX7A-BS. Batteries Plus carries a replacement for the YTX7A-BS. According to their web site, the SKU number for their battery is YUEM32X7A. WalMart also carries a replacement. I don't have the WalMart replacement number, sorry. You'll have to check their cross-reference book for the Yuasa YTX7A-BS. If you do go to Walmart, I'd appreciate it if you'd post their replacement battery number here, so we'll know.

A warning - before you head out to get a battery, pull the old one from your scooter (You'll have to do this anyway, so now is as good a time as any) and make sure the number I've given you above is correct. It should be printed right on the side of the battery. If it's not the right number, please post that back here. While you have the battery out, look down at it from the top and note the orientation of the Plus (+) and Minus (-) terminals. Make CERTAIN that the terminals of your replacement battery are oriented the same. This is unheard of, but last year I heard of a case where the orientation of the terminals was reversed on a battery. Just make certain your replacement battery is really identical.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

There's no way it's the battery... if kickstarting doesn't work there's some deeper issues there. I'd check the spark first, then fuel delivery. I ran my Buddy for a month without a battery present because I was waiting for a custom one to ship. The scoot will run just fine without it.

Pull the plug and have someone kickstart it, make sure there's spark. If you have spark, check the fuel filter and make sure it's not clogged up. Past that, it's something I'd have to see and start tinkering with. A dealer is your best option however since it's new and under warrenty.

Also, if you do pull the battery, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START IT w/o a battery, that can screw things up big time.

illnoise wrote:Also, if you do pull the battery, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START IT w/o a battery, that can screw things up big time.

that explains so much about my Buddy... LOL

Buddy does run by kickstart without a battery being in, I did it several times this winter. That being said, I have seen comments by POC Phil, and Illinoise above that warn against it, so I probably won't do it any more.

I just got a new flyer from scooterworks, and they have a battery sale right now, so you may want to check them for price especially if you cannot find one local quickly. http://www.scooterworks.com/Battery_12V ... _P4768.cfm

Good luck! Ed

Ed Hit wrote:Buddy does run by kickstart without a battery being in, I did it several times this winter.

Yep, that's why I'm thinking he has an electrical glitch, maybe something simple, but apparently he is now 600 miles from his Genuine dealer, so... what to do? The battery is the one part he can source locally (I hope) and there is one way a bad battery could cause such havoc in the electrical system which is if the battery is internally shorted.

I figured it was worth a shot. Am I wrong?

I'd connect it to a car battery and see if it will idle, but I have serious doubts it's the bettary if anything, a bad ground or even possibly a regulator or stator. If you have a volt meter, you could backtrack the issue fairly simply yourself?

Unfortunately, your closest Buddy dealer is in San Diego. Motorsports are a great bunch of guys. Give them all call on Tuesday. Maybe Max or one of the other guys can help you out. http://www.scooterwest.com/contact/

Kurzer wrote:I'd connect it to a car battery and see if it will idle, but I have serious doubts it's the bettary if anything, a bad ground or even possibly a regulator or stator. If you have a volt meter, you could backtrack the issue fairly simply yourself?

If you try to jump from a car DO NOT start the car. You should be able to start without doing so. If not, you have some kind of electrical problem other than a weak battery.

Starting the car could blow a fuse or fry something you don't want fried.

Check the fuse.

ericalm wrote:Starting the car could ... fry something you don't want fried.

Your voltage regulator, for example.

I was able to Kick start it today. But all electrical issues are the same.

I bought a new battery today and it seemed to fix my problem - my buddy is up and zipping around. My Yusua battery cost me $96. Thank you all for your help!

Craig wrote:I have only 700 miles on my Buddy - I am already having issues. My blinkers now won't blink, my horn has half it's volume, my head light is dim and the automatic starter doesn't work. I have to kick start it.

does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you,

Craig

I've had the same problem after less than one year. I had already changed the battery so I brought my Buddy back to the dealer and after checking, he found out that the voltage regulator was bad. I've had a new for free and now it's working.
I have to wait a little to see if the pb is not coming back though...