Why is my scooter not starting properly?

by Anonymous
(Somewhere)

My scooter is two years old. I didn't know to take the battery out or trickle charge it over the winter. It has been in for its four hundred mile check-up, last fall. It now has a little over 500 miles.


I've had the battery tested and it's OK. It turns over sometimes; other times when I turn the key and push the button there is nothing happening. I'm afraid to keep trying to start it.

Should I have had the oil changed or should I check the spark plugs or is there sludge in the gas? It sat with gas over the winter too. Is that bad?

I can't take it back to the dealer because I've moved. I'm close to Philadelphia; is there a good repair shop?

I just tried it again... it's been sitting most of the summer and now it's fall. I need some advice on what to do. Thank you for your help and advice.

Comments for Why is my scooter not starting properly?

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Oct 11, 2010
Brake Switch
by: Jim Zeiser

This sounds like the infamous brake switch problem. Try squeezing both brakes and see what happens. If the contacts wear out in your brake switch the scooter won't start when you push the start button.

Oct 11, 2010
Not Good
by: Kathi

Hi there... I'm sure other more knowledgeable readers will chime in here, but I'm surprised to hear that your battery tested out OK. Generally, if you leave the battery in a scooter for a length of time, without a trickle charger, it will drain. Often, you need to replace it with a new one, though I did that the first winter with my scooter, and I was able to recharge it.

Leaving the gas in for all that time is also not good. I'd definitely drain that out completely and fill the tank with fresh gas.

Aside from that, I'll leave you to people like Jimmy Z., who will give you better answers than I can...

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