Elect. /Runs-Y Headlight-Y Dash-Some Tailight & Turn-No

theclem · Post by **theclem** » Sun May 18, 2014 9:18 pm

My 2009 2T has been having a few electrical issues.

I can kickstart it (never had functioning electric starter) and it will run on the first kick.

The headlight and high beams comes on after I start it up as well as the corresponding indicators for those lights on the instrument panel. I don't have any power to indicator lights for any turn signals, brakes, or tail light. When I turn off the scooter the neutral light flickers.

When I turn the key in the ignition there isn't any power to the dash or lights. I thought this might be a battery issue, so I multimetered the battery (Just where it should be 12-13V) and replaced the 8Amp fuse in the front cover. I checked all the wires in the horncast and underneath the instrument panel, nothing was loose except for the broken electric starter wire (red-orange).

Any ideas next before I bring it to the dealer?

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Sun May 18, 2014 10:52 pm

I'd suspect the rectifier, but it could be a problem with the stator plate or the wiring.

Download the service manual here, and check page 17 and 18 for the procedure for testing the charging system.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Mon May 19, 2014 12:31 am

Is there a fuse near the battery too? Check there also...

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Mon May 19, 2014 4:06 am

On the 2T, there is a fuse by the battery goes between the DC-rectified output and the battery. I believe it's there to prevent a battery short from blowing the electrical system. A 2T Stella will run her taillamp, stop lamp and signals without a battery, but it requires higher engine speeds for them to get enough juice to operate. This also applies to the US-spec P-series Vespa in stock configuration.

If the rectifier section of the regulator/rectifier package dies, those lights will run on battery until the battery dies. You'll have to charge the battery externally between trips to get by, but the battery won't last too long (less than a day) and electric start is definitely a no-go. I had a rotted and broken wire in my harness that caused the rectifier section to blow. After finding and fixing the break, the bike still didn't charge. I had to test the rectifier and replace it to restore the charging circuit.

It is weird to lose part of the unit, but it can happen. The headlight and some speedometer lights run on AC, so they will work so long as the regulator section still works.

It could also be as simple as a disconnected wire. Check the harness connections to the regulator/rectifier to make sure that they're fully seated. Check the connections where the harness comes out of the motor and check the area where the wiring harness passes from the engine space into the bodywork to make sure that the wiring hasn't been cut up and that it isn't shorting to the bodywork. There should be a rubber grommet there to protect the harness, but it is a Stella and the factory rubber is pretty lousy.

If you find loose or frayed wiring, repair it and re-test the rectifier section, you might get lucky.

theclem · Post by **theclem** » Mon May 19, 2014 11:36 pm

Thanks for your help guys.

So I just found that fuse by the battery. It was blown. I put two more in started them up and they broke too.

Is this still going to be a rectifier issue?

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Mon May 26, 2014 5:24 am

It could still be a rectifier issue, but it is equally likely that you have a shorted wire.

Is the key on when the fuse blows?

If not ( my guess), the battery harness is shorting to ground before getting power up to the key switch. I can think of two likely places for a short: the spot where the harness goes from the engine into the bodywork and the spot where the harness passes between the fork tube tunnel and the headset. Either location is a likely candidate, but if I was betting, I'd put my money on the latter.