intermittent electrical start problem

[stoneboy]

Hello,

I did a search on the forum and could not find the post related to my problem so I start a new thread here. Here is intermittent electrical start problem with my agility 50 2013.

One day about a month ago, after riding in the rain, the following morning I was not able to electrical start. Ever since then, it can sometimes electrical start and sometimes it fails.  There is no clear pattern, but it seems to be this... The successful electrical starts tend to follow after riding for a while. The un-successful starts tend to be always the first time to ride it in a day. The kick start always works which is my saving grace.

When it is not started: The depressing of the starter button causes a click noise, sort of similar to the one you hear when you tried to cook in the stove range.

The battery is fully charged and it is not the issue. I also replaced the spark plug and the problem persists.

Could you help me to figure out what the problem might be?

Thanks very much!

[stoneboy]

Please help... any tip to trouble shoot this is greatly appreciated! 

[Vivo]

Sounds like a starter relay problem...  It's the small thing between your battery and the starter motor... Another possibility is a loose connection on the system...

[stoneboy]

Thanks! How do I get to the starter relay? Is it through the seat compartment?

Also, I spoke to the dealer and he thinks that the issue is related to the cold weather. Once I started to ride it, the problem seems going away. It is always difficult to start it the first time to ride in the morning. He suggested that I use a 7-amp battery. Does this sound reasonable?

[Vivo]

If it's a battery issue, it would be hard starting...engine will turn... but will take a while to start... but since you mentioned the "click", I doubt it's the battery... However, there's no harm in trying...

How to get there? not sure... I would just follow the wire from the battery to the starter motor...

[stoneboy]

I don't think it is battery issue, either.  I agree with you. If battery is low, I would have heard engine cranking, but all I hear is the click sound when I depress the starter button.

How do you explain that once it is started and there is no issue of electrical start for the rest of the day? Since I can't show the dealer that there is a problem when I ride the scooter there, they think that there is no problem. How ironic!

[Vivo]

How do you explain that once it is started and there is no issue of electrical start for the rest of the day? Since I can't show the dealer that there is a problem when I ride the scooter there, they think that there is no problem. How ironic!

Because your relay is not 100% "dead"... The clicking sound is an indication that only the contact circuit inside is bad and not the whole thing.  It may still operate... If you don't hear the click, the whole thing is dead... Maybe, during the rest of the day, your battery has peak power and it can switch the relay easy but not during cold mornings. Just a guess... 

[stoneboy]

Thanks for the pointer. I will have to learn how to get to the starter relay and examine it first. For whatever reason after I took the CDI out and put it back in, I have not experienced the electrical start problem. Very odd again..

[JJJoseph]

The successful electrical starts tend to follow after riding for a while. The un-successful starts tend to be always the first time to ride it in a day. The kick start always works which is my saving grace.

Weak or old battery.  It charges up enough after a ride, but won't start after sitting over-night, and always starts with kick-starter.

[stoneboy]

Thanks! I think that the battery is indeed the issue. My motorcycle friend came and looked at it. He concluded the same reason, too. But it is odd. The battery is less than a year old.

[Redundant]

Cold killed my original Kymco Agility battery, and I ended up replacing it with a higher amperage one for more cranking power and longer cranking time - for those cold mornings or when I have been fiddling with the carb.  I have also had issues with oxidation on the battery terminals/connectors and the frame ground terminal/connector, and even the positive power to starter motor connector.  The clicking noise is of course the solenoid inside the starter relay, and even though it clicks it can still fail on the switching side.  A 7amp battery is a good place to start - I have one...

[JJJoseph]

When you shut off the engine, the piston stops opposite the compression stroke, and it's difficult for the starter to move it past top dead center.  A weak battery, like the 4AH that comes with a 50cc, can't push the cold piston over top dead center.  It just clicks and does nothing when too cold, like in winter.  If you nudge the piston past TDC, it will start fine.  Or switch to a 7AH battery (which might be bigger than your battery box).   I think you'll find if you nudge the kick starter just past the compression stroke, it'll start every time with the electric starter, even in winter.