People s 125 won’t start.

[Terryvanman]

Hi guys me again. My mate has a People’s S125. It’s 5 years old with just 5000 kilomètres on the clock one owner from new. It has stood for over a year so he had it serviced with new pads battery and all the usual new filters and oils. I collected it from the mechanic and it started first time and covered the 2 kilomètres home with no trouble
Next morning it won’t start, the new battery had tons of charge and the engine turns over, on inspecting the new spark plug that too had a nice bright spark. We Thought that maybe it was out of fuel as the gage might be stuck on a quarter of a tank, put in some fresh fuel and the needle didn’t move but a gallon went in. We made sure the stand was up and no problem with any kill switch as there ain’t one
So has anyone had the same problem,if so what was it?

[Stig / Major Tom]

With key on, is the brake light lit when you pull the brake lever?

Stig

[Terryvanman]

With key on, is the brake light lit when you pull the brake lever?

Stig

Hi Tom, I’ll check in the morning Malta time

[Ruffus]

Since the People S 125 is an injector model already, I would go for a blocked injector nozzle by gunk.

Spark is there, fuel in tank....
-battery completely full or jump cables on

Listen whether the fuelpump works for a few seconds when you switch ignition on.

-take off fuel hose from injector
-put hose in a jar or similar
-ignition on
Fuel YES/NO (really fuel or water?)
IF YES

-injector out, connect with fuelhose  again
-jar under nozzle
-ignition on
-starter button
SPRAYS FINE OUT OF NOZZLE?

[Terryvanman]

Since the People S 125 is an injector model already, I would go for a blocked injector nozzle by gunk.

Spark is there, fuel in tank....
-battery completely full or jump cables on

Listen whether the fuelpump works for a few seconds when you switch ignition on.

-take off fuel hose from injector
-put hose in a jar or similar
-ignition on
Fuel YES/NO (really fuel or water?)
IF YES

-injector out, connect with fuelhose  again
-jar under nozzle
-ignition on
-starter button
SPRAYS FINE OUT OF NOZZLE?

OK, no sound of fuel pump working when turned on, petrol getting to the injector but just as trickle when come out of injector when turned over. So I’m thinking the fuel filter could be blocked the pump is faulty/blocked or the injector is blocked

[Ruffus]

Well, no pumpsound:
- check fuses (renew)
- check/interchange fuelpump relay under front
- check cables towards fuelpump
- follow fuel line for interuptions
- take any additional fuel filter out of the line (your pump has a filter already)

All fine?

- fuelpump out and benchtest
- sound? Yes/No

- fuelpump should have a pressure of 3 bar minimum

Injector: returnflush with fuel or alcohol/diesel

[Terryvanman]

Well, no pumpsound:
- check fuses (renew)
- check/interchange fuelpump relay under front
- check cables towards fuelpump
- follow fuel line for interuptions
- take any additional fuel filter out of the line (your pump has a filter already)

All fine?


Pulled the fuel line off the injector and pressed the starter and no fuel came out this time not even a trickle, so probably a blocked filter or DUFF pump….first I’ll check the fuses, anyone know what fuse is for the fuel pump, where is the fuel pump relay, what does it look like please?




- fuelpump out and benchtest
- sound? Yes/No

- fuelpump should have a pressure of 3 bar minimum

Injector: returnflush with fuel or alcohol/diesel

[Ruffus]

DUFF pump….first I’ll check the fuses, anyone know what fuse is for the fuel pump, where is the fuel pump relay, what does it look like please?

For relays pls see pics, located in your scoots front, fairing with headlight has to be removed.

Pump: multimeter on cables for pump
-ignition on
-12+V should be there

Fuses: multimeter still on cables,  shows current, take fuse one by one out, current off this fuse is it

[Terryvanman]

DUFF pump….first I’ll check the fuses, anyone know what fuse is for the fuel pump, where is the fuel pump relay, what does it look like please?

For relays pls see pics, located in your scoots front, fairing with headlight has to be removed.

Pump: multimeter on cables for pump
-ignition on
-12+V should be there

Fuses: multimeter still on cables,  shows current, take fuse one by one out, current off this fuse is it

Thanks everyone for all your help….being a non mechanic I’m waving the white flag and taking it to a local ( professional) mechanic. It was fun having a go.

[Neil955i]

Thanks everyone for all your help….being a non mechanic I’m waving the white flag and taking it to a local ( professional) mechanic. It was fun having a go.

Don’t forget to let us know what it was when you find out?  It all adds to the sum of knowledge on here!

[Terryvanman]

Don’t forget to let us know what it was when you find out?  It all adds to the sum of knowledge on here!

Will do.

[Terryvanman]

We’ll at long last it’s now back running, it turns out that while it was left unused for over a year there was just a small amount of fuel in the tank so a form of surface rust started to appear where the fuel didn’t touch the inside of the tank, also the fuel that was in the tank turned into a fine jelly. So after giving the scooter a full service I rode the scooter the short distance home and left it for a few days and that’s when it just wouldn’t start.
So the mechanic after trying several tricks of the trade to get it going it was a removal of the fuel tank and a drain and clean of the inside of the tank until the cleaner came out clear of any bits, and replacing the fuel pump €350 and replacing the fuel injector €120 that were both clogged with the jelly/rust particles. So if you are thinking of storing a scooter make sure you fill the tank and run it around the block regularly.
Both my friend and I have,after suffering this long winded saga, decided to buy new scooters. I have a kymco 200s and my friend  has gone for a Honda forza125 both are new, both are covered by a 3 year warranty. So the lesson is, bite the bullit, buy new, make sure you get it serviced as the owners manual states and part exchange or sell it privately after the warranty runs out to get a good price. Then buy new again and have 3 more years of happy scootering. Let’s face it most sub 200cc scooters are not that expensive not only to buy but to have serviced buy the shop you buy it from.

[Ruffus]

Interesting approach to change after three years or warranty running out. Lots of scooteristi here keep their ride way longer for several reasons.

Here in EU a People 200i S is around €4.000,- brandnew out of the shop.
Plus around €220,- for registration
Plus appr. € 200,- insurance /year
Plus ca. €50,- taxes/ year
..makes €4470,- for the first year without service, etc.

After three years you  might get €1.200,- IF the scoot is without demage and with proven service.

Makes a loss of €3.270,- in this time and takes you alot of fun tinkering with your scoot after this period. 😅
Many owners here keep  scoots for more than ten years and have a big smile on  their face during riding.

[Terryvanman]

Interesting approach to change after three years or warranty running out. Lots of scooteristi here keep their ride way longer for several reasons.

Here in EU a People 200i S is around €4.000,- brandnew out of the shop.
Plus around €220,- for registration
Plus appr. € 200,- insurance /year
Plus ca. €50,- taxes/ year
..makes €4470,- for the first year without service, etc.

After three years you  might get €1.200,- IF the scoot is without demage and with proven service.

Makes a loss of €3.270,- in this time and takes you alot of fun tinkering with your scoot after this period. 😅
Many owners here keep  scoots for more than ten years and have a big smile on  their face during riding.

Hi Rufus.

As I said I have a kymco 200 brand new. That I bought in Malta cost €3300 (on the road price)I also bought a brand new Kymco 200 in Cyprus, as we also have a place there, interesting that was €3100( on the road price)The cost of road tax is just €10 a year and full comprehensive insurance is around €230 each. When I decide to sell any  I will remove the top box and fit them to the new replacement scooters, so no cost there. If at any time in the first 3 years I have a problem I just ring up the shop and tell them and they pick up the scooters and fix them free of charge and deliver them back. If like me you are a careful rider of 55 years plus and you keep a well documented service history and you don’t do mega miles I think you would get a little bit more than €1200 more in the way of €1700.  If you enjoy tinkering with your scooter thats fair enough but I like to think that the well trained mechanic that work at the dealership has been on all the training seminars and know what he’s doing especially with all the new electronic systems that are on the modern day scooter. 

[Ruffus]

Great price there at the island! Took sums from here in Italy.
Service also grand when they do pickup during warranty.
Enjoy scootering as much as you can.