Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

Non-Car Question


  Email This Post



ellpee
New User

Mar 27, 2019, 10:02 AM

Post #1 of 3 (1002 views)
Non-Car Question Sign In

Hoping folks here will tolerate a post about an electrical issue with a MOTORSCOOTER, not a car or truck. I'm guessing it involves just basic 12v auto electrical concepts, so I'm throwing myself on your mercy.
Chinese 300cc (1 cyl.) motor scooter running fine until one day recently when dashboard indicator lights (turn, headlights, hi beams) started flickering. Then, as I tried to find the problem they all lit up like a Xmas tree and the engine died, BUT none of the associated accessories -- lights, horn, electric fuel pump, starter circuit -- worked at all. First suspected bad connector somewhere, looked at all I could reach, no problem found, ditto the associated wires. (Nothing burned or rubbed through.) Then I looked hard at the key switch, also no problem found. Red wire in with 12v, black/green/Black and white out, all apparently okay. So I took apart the dash to look for a problem, none found. So now I'm left wondering, if the key switch is okay and power is getting through to the dash lights, even things that aren't supposed to light up until the corresponding accessory is activated, where the heck do I look next?

I'm sure this first post will raise more questions than it answers, but if any auto electric guru out there is willing to work with me to figure this out, I'm happy to provide as much info as it takes. I do have a wiring diagram that is probably 90% good for my scooter, different wire colors but for the most part it seems to match up.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 27, 2019, 11:15 AM

Post #2 of 3 (998 views)
Re: Non-Car Question Sign In

The most basic concepts. Test light you apparently have and DVOM so much the better. ALL these going out suggests they lack GROUND. Guess the engine has the generating alternator so blocks of engine are the first and primary ground. Things that are rubber mounted, plastic all over this need both power and ground by wire.
Take you test device and add power from a battery I hope it uses, to device normally used for ground to test for power - backwards in other words.
Now everything you touch with it that should be ground would show up a light or meter.
You've lost so much stuff that would explain it. Most motor things of any sort would ground from engine to frame/body and use that metal for ground and this might too but need help to plastic or moving parts like steering if anything electrical turns see if a wire or contacts somewhere. Handlebars? How are those grounded?


Some sort of dash if in plastic that too.


Other if a larger gauge wire or any even intact but insulation looks good carefully wiggle test and pull see if it has a break where it goes soft or stretches.


That's just some of the most crude basics and a reason to lose a lot of things like this.


If no battery and only has lighting/power if engine is on/running let's start over need to find how it's done,
T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 27, 2019, 12:57 PM

Post #3 of 3 (990 views)
Re: Non-Car Question Sign In

This unit has to have fuses somewhere. Have you checked them?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap