2012 Kymco Like 200i Acceleration Problems

[fifemissenden94133]

Hello all - I just bought a used 2012 Kymco Like 200i with only 2,000 miles on it. The seller rarely used the scooter. On my drive home (roughly sixty miles) the scooter would occasionally lose power intermittently. If I opened up the throttle it would keep going, but the engine light was flashing and power was not consistent. When I got home I checked the engine oil level and when I opened up the gauge, oil came spurting out.  I brought it by my local mechanic today who changed the oil and put a new spark plug in. I also put fresh gas in the scooter right away when I bought it. The mechanic said he doesn't know what is wrong and doesn't have a scan tool for Kymco. Does anyone know what might be happening here or have a scan tool that I can borrow (will happily pay for shipping)? The bike runs smoothly for the first five or so miles but then when it gets warmed up the power can be intermittent (which is dangerous when driving). My guess is the ECU or TPS but I want to be sure before ordering parts. Not sure why I'm having so much trouble at such low mileage.

[Stig / Major Tom]

What did your mechanic have to say about oil spurting out when you removed the dipstick?
Also, I  think that there is too little evidence, for me, to suspect that the ECU or the TPS  is at fault. They don't generally go south from lack of use. Sounds like your dashboard is signaling fault codes.... can you tell us what they are?
The oil spurting is troublesome and suspect, as is the cleanliness  of the injector, condition of the valve lash, and your electrical flow ....starting with battery cables, spark plug cap and grounds to frame.
Most suspect is the massively overfilled engine oil.
Please give further details about that.

Stig

[fifemissenden94133]

After taking it to several mechanics in San Francisco, I finally took it to the Kymco dealer in Oakland CA. They said the oil spurting was just an overfill. They said that the codes indicated a faulty ECU (I don't know the code numbers they actually found). We did all the other basic maintenance... changed the spark plug, changed the oil and filled it to the correct level. Checked all the connections in the engine compartment. Thanks for your input! Any ideas how I can get a Kymco code reader myself? I don't see them for sale online. I suspect I could do the ECU replacement myself, but since they diagnosed, I will give them the business.

[cakebrake]

I don't understand, if the dealer thought it was the ecu, and you were there....why not replace it?

My first thought is that you are intermittently losing power,  as in a short near the battery

[Stig / Major Tom]

A Kymco diagnostic tool (plug-in reader) is @ $200 or so, but you don't need that if your dealer has traced the faults to the ECU.
The ECU is @$250...so I understand why they did not pop you a new one in.

Frankly the diagnostic tool just 'proves' things - and without the info to make any changes, it is not real valuable to the owner - other than proving a fault. IMHO. I trust that your dealer had one and  used it to 'prove' the ECU was bad.

As for the codes displayed by the blinks....several of us have a manual to tell us what the code means. Long blink is 10, short blinks are singles. And it will repeat itself.


IF you are convinced your dealer has tracked it to a bad ECU - you may try to search one from a dismantler, or on ebay….but not at give-away prices. Seems the sellers know what they have, generally.


Bad luck to run into a bad ECU on this scooter.
Please keep us in the loop.

Good luck,
Stig

[fifemissenden94133]

Yes, the dealer thinks it is the ECU, and yes, they are replacing it.

I own two other kymco's for family members, so the diagnostic tool might be a worthy investment. Let me know if you have a link to purchase one, but noted on your opinion.

Agreed bad luck on the ECU... seems crazy that it would go out after 2,000 miles. I hope the dealer has been honest in their assessment. I have no reason to distrust them. They were also the only shop out of 3 I looked at willing to work on the problem, so I'd rather not keep shopping around.

Will update once I get it back and drive it around a bit.