2008 Stella 2T - Won't Start - Any Advice?

JustJessie · Post by **JustJessie** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:08 pm

Hello Everyone...

I have been lurking on here for quite awhile now and decided to ask for advice on my 2008 Stella. It's not running. I'm not quite sure why. I am very very new to scooter repair and new to Stellas. My mechanical apptitude consists of following steps in a book to fix what I need to. I have successfully done breaks and replaced a fuel pump in my truck. Please bear with me as I'm not completely dumbfounded but my knowledge is at a very beginning level.

I bought the Stella used with 1,800 miles on it. I had NO IDEA how to even drive a manual transmission car let alone something you shift with the handle, like my Stella. It was a love/hate relationship at first. Then when my truck was hit and Stella became my daily driver it was nothing but love, let me tell ya.

Now, the only thing I've ever owned with a choke on it was a weed whacker. I don't know why... but the choke was pulled out on it when I bought it from the original owner. I really didnt think much about the choke until I asked my Dad who told me I probably didn't need to mess with that unless it was cold out or if my scooter wouldn't start right up. So I just left it alone.

The problem is I ran it with the choke out all over. I didn't know any better and I didn't read anything that told me otherwise until a few weeks ago. So upon realizing my mistake I immediately put my choke in and the scooter drove much better... for awhile....

Last week my scooter wouldnt start. The first thing I did was replace the spark plug. Then my friend cleaned the carburetor and the jets. That didn't make a difference either. We tested the spark on the new spark plug and it would not spark. So then we thought it was a problem with the ignition coil. The ignition coil seemed ok when we tested it with a multimeter but the spark plug still wasnt getting a spark so my buddy told me I probably needed a new ignition coil. Thinking that would solve the problem, I put in a new one of those and that didn't help either.

Another person in my scooter club suggested that I rebuild the carburetor. I ordered a carburetor rebuild kit off the scooterworks website and I haven't tried it yet but I'm about to look up how to do it and give it a go.

I am hoping someone here may have some good advice for me. My scooter is my only transportation and I would like to get it going again.

Thanks for any suggestions you may have!

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:29 pm

So in replacing and checking your coil, Id guess that you had a good look at the spark plug wire.. made sure that the cap was screwed on tight? etc? or even remove the cap and cut a half inch off the wire, then screw the cap back on?
Or Id say.. try the fuse.. there's only 1 and on the 08,im guessing that it is located near the battery?? above or on the side?? in a fuse holder... try and look to see if the fuse is blown..
good luck...

PS... this is a copy and paste from another thread by another member...
"Actually there are two fuses on the 4T Stella's, Just like the later 2T Stella's there is one hidden under the horn cast as well as the one on the battery box."

JustJessie · Post by **JustJessie** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:45 pm

Okay I was unaware of the other fuse. I will check that. I did check the one that is under the battery. It was ok.

Yes we cut the spark plug wire and tried putting it back in. No love.

I'm actually pretty frustrated at this point so I'm taking into a shop. I just feel kinda defeated but at least itll be back on the road.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 12:29 am

another thing...BUT you would have noticed it right away when you removed and replaced your coil..
I had an 08 and the bracket that held the coil itself to the engine case actually broke.
The bracket has 2 holes that bolts go thu and thru the engine case.
Mine broke thru one of the holes and the coil and half of the bracket(the half that bolted the coil on) was left gaped and semi dangling away from the engine case..
Causing the coil to NOT be grounded to the engine, thereby causing loss of spark.
At first I didnt see it till I grabbed the coil/plug wire and then felt the coil move.
But you would have noticed if yours came loose from it's mounting bracket or if the bracket itself was compromised..
And a few threads prior and after confirmed that this was a problem on some of the 08's.
My friends 09 , the coil was moved to a different mounting location.
good luck.
also.. check the wires comming to and out of the CDI box... probally is 4 of them once you remove the black plastic covering..
crimp them tighter with a pliers and put them back onto the spades..
then try again for spark.
hopefull it s$aves you a trip to the s$hop
good luck

stASH · Post by **stASH** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:38 pm

I would definitely focus on making sure there's a spark at the plug before messing with the carb.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:27 pm

stASH wrote:I would definitely focus on making sure there's a spark at the plug before messing with the carb.

Agree...a squeeky clean carb will not make any difference without spark.

Check your connections as suggested...all of them. cap to plug, cap to ingition wire, ignition wire to coil (this has gotten me more than once.

Electrical problems can be a bear to track down. Also...get a copy of the Haynes PX book. If you can do a fuel pump you can do almost anything on a Stella with the right instructions

ordermeanother · Post by **ordermeanother** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:46 pm

are you sure the gas is "on"? when I first started riding I fought with mine for an entire weekend before I looked at the fuel lever... Sure enough in the off position.

jiro · Post by **jiro** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:46 pm

Sorry I'm not trying to be smart but, is the kill switch in the on position? Had it happen to me a couple of times! Slow learner.

If it is, pull it out and check for power from the battery at the switch then you will know that part of the curcuit is good or not.
Jiro

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:38 am

jiro wrote:Sorry I'm not trying to be smart but, is the kill switch in the on position? Had it happen to me a couple of times! Slow learner. If it is, pull it out and check for power from the battery at the switch then you will know that part of the curcuit is good or not.
Jiro

.

Good answer jiro....... I completely forgot about the kill switch..
The Stellas are prone to the wires grounding inside the kill button....especially if left out in the rain... or after a wash... etc...
AND that will defiantly kill the spark....
Pull that switch housing apart and check all the wire connections....
good luck

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:27 pm

jimmbomb wrote:
jiro wrote:Sorry I'm not trying to be smart but, is the kill switch in the on position? Had it happen to me a couple of times! Slow learner. If it is, pull it out and check for power from the battery at the switch then you will know that part of the curcuit is good or not.
Jiro
.

Good answer jiro....... I completely forgot about the kill switch..
The Stellas are prone to the wires grounding inside the kill button....especially if left out in the rain... or after a wash... etc...
AND that will defiantly kill the spark....
Pull that switch housing apart and check all the wire connections....
good luck

Or just disconnect it back at the block

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:26 pm

BuddyRaton wrote:
jimmbomb wrote:
jiro wrote:Sorry I'm not trying to be smart but, is the kill switch in the on position? Had it happen to me a couple of times! Slow learner. If it is, pull it out and check for power from the battery at the switch then you will know that part of the curcuit is good or not.
Jiro
.

Good answer jiro....... I completely forgot about the kill switch..
The Stellas are prone to the wires grounding inside the kill button....especially if left out in the rain... or after a wash... etc...
AND that will defiantly kill the spark....
Pull that switch housing apart and check all the wire connections....
good luck
Or just disconnect it back at the block

Thanks BuddyRaton...
Can you please give us detailed instructions on where this is.... And which to disconnect?
Thanks.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:20 pm

The service manual is here

topic17349.html

I can't open it right now but the block is lockted on the back of the motor with wires going to the junction box on top of the flywheel.

I believe..but need to check...that the kill wire is the green ground on the right side looking at the back of the motor

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 4:09 pm

update?

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:14 pm

BuddyRaton wrote:The service manual is here

topic17349.html

I can't open it right now but the block is lockted on the back of the motor with wires going to the junction box on top of the flywheel.

I believe..but need to check...that the kill wire is the green ground on the right side looking at the back of the motor

Buddy... I think you are correct.
When I put my 200 Vespa motor in my 09....
The green wire on the block was the KILL wire...
Thanks..

Modern Buddy