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mrsalias has a slightly tempramental scooter, its a Honda Lead 100cc, about 12yrs old, electric starter button.
a couple of times she has got to it and when put in the key, gets nothing, no lights anywhere. Ive kicked the thing over and had it running and then its back to starting on the button.
The battery was clearly struggling last week in the cold weather, but with a bit of persuasion would start.
Yesterday, started on the button morning and evening.
Today, dead to the key this morning, I kicked it over and got it running, this afternoon again dead. Having been out to do my AArescue piece, it got her home.
I called her when she got home and asked her to go out and turn the key - nothing.
So whats wrong? (im okish with cars, no clue with motorbikes)
Dead battery?
Alternator? does a scooter even have an alternator, if not what
Bad Earth?
anyone with any suggestions, other than take the car and pay the parking, please. She has a 0430 start tomorrow, so im lining up for a 0400 kick start 🙁
Battery most likely - they are tiny in those things and not much frost protection.
Multimeter on it to see what its reading - under 12.3 and its toast.
Check the voltage when its running too incase the stator or reg/rec is going (unlikely) >14.2
Could be any of your suggestions, but iirc Honda's are famous for having reg/recs that go iffy.
There'll be a lovely eggy smell if it does 😆
I don't know scooters but motorbikes usually have undersized, feeble batteries, and often fairly delicate charging systems. So if it's similiar I'd check battery first, reg/rec second.
If it's the battery, it's sometimes possible to upgrade- worth seeing if there's room for a higher capacity, more powerful battery. Capacity speaks for itself, more powerful- higher cca or cold cranking amps- is how hard it can stir the engine and makes a big difference in proper cold.
Sounds like poor battery to me too - not holding a charge. DO check that it's a 12v one though as some of the older scooters & motorbikes had 6v batteries. And yes they must have an alternator to charge up the battery.
bugger.
12V battery, no poxy tiny battery charger (will have to ask around) and all new ones ive found come needing charging.
will google stator and reg/rec
Sounds like the battery. My wife also has a 13yr old honda lead and it showed the same symptoms a year ago and a new battery fixed it. I did test the battery and the alternator charge first before replacing.