500 RI won't start

[SylSki]

Kept a trickle charger on so far through the winter, battery stayed up nice. Started it every few weeks, started fine. Went to start today, battery was fine,
it turned over several times , didn't start and than I heard some sort of a wierd noise like something locked up or such and evidentally that is what happened in my thought's to the sound. Turned the key and nothing, lights working ok, tried to crank again, made sure kick stand up was using the center stand and nothing in turning the key??? 2012 year..approx. 2,000 miles. Anyone have any thought's...appreciate it....*%^&$#@*&

[sissy mary]

If you heard something? Then it sounds like the starter selinoid did not release or something? And bound up? If it's not that, then it must be an electrical gremlin? Good luck and keep us posted in case it happens to us?

[Urbestfriend]

Charge it up again.  I have had the same issue.  Turns over,  starts fine,  then one day,  usually colder,  it won't start right off and needs cranked again.  Battery runs down REALLY fast.  Of course.  Lights and everything else work,  but there's just not enough power to start the bike.  One thing I've discovered in cold weather.  Turn the key on,  leave it on for maybe 30 seconds.  Do a short crank.  Then open throttle quickly twice and crank again.  Seems to be working fine until temperature
REALLY drops.  Had the battery checked and they said even though charge was low,  battery was OK.   I have been using the trickle charger too.  To me,  it seems to be the battery even though it's just over a year old.

Had a similar problem with an Agility 50.  Pulled the starter, checked it out,  replaced a regulator if I recall correctly and ended up being the battery in that case.

[SylSki]

sissy mary and urbestfriend........ thank you for the input. The temperature is to go to 60 today and I have let the trickle charger on since yesterday, no start and will let know what happen's. I have been really looking forward to a warm day to go out for awhile. After the input, I have another question about the battery's and charger in these Scoot's. Being new to all this when I purchased, it always gave me the feeling that the battery wasn't very strong. Is this what you spoke about in your reply. Are there higher amp battery's that can be installed or is it just the way it will be? And now a dumb question but I just don't know.....can one jump these unit's or is the amps too high in auto's to do so? If so, with these unit's having such a small battery, it shouldn't be neccessary to have the jumping unit running?? Now this bit has me thinking about...hopefully this doesn't happen out on the road far from home. Carry an extra battery huh !!

[SylSki]

Is it possible or recommended that a starter fluid can be used to start these unit's. If it can be used.... is there a convenient place to spray the starter fluid?

[sissy mary]

A battery in good condition should start your bike unless maybe it's very cold out, like in the twenties or so. But even then it should start. How old is the battery? Mine started to have less cranking power after about 3 years, but I have a true gell in it. There are people who sell the true gell and lithium batteries on ebay. The lithiums are not cheap, but have a much higher cranking amp. On ebay motors/motorcycles, type in xciting 500, and in the right side drop down box click on parts and accessories. You will find many selling these items. No place to spray in starting fluid, unless you removed filter. I WOULD NOT DO SO MYSELF. I jumped my bike once from my car. I would not do it unless emergency. I have heard more than once that the fuel injected bikes can be iff'y when its cold out? Maybe it's the fuel pump that takes more juice than carb and crank amps go down?

[SylSki]

Trickle charged since yesterday afternoon until a few minutes ago, placed an electric heater at the back end underneath and blocked off all sides for 2 hours, went to start and nothing. All I heard was a click, no turn over nothing. Light's all worked so look's like I am going to have a pickup/tow and repair bill...damn...damn... If this will be the nature of the beast, I may look at selling. I should have purchased a Honda or other known brand.

[Urbestfriend]

take that battery to someone who can check it for you.  I use Interstate Batteries.  they advised not using too high charging amps on a gel filled battery because it could explode.  I have more than once used the charger set on 50 amps to jump start.  These smaller batteries, including garden tractor variety do not last much over 2/3 years.   I thought about ether too,  but its not very accessable and I believe it thins oil in the cylinder.  I've had six or seven experiences like this on several bikes.   I have a Vino 50 that the battery runs down real fast, due to auto. Choke issues.

[MaryK]

Yes, take the battery to an auto parts store. 
Call first to find one that has a battery tester for these scooter/motorcycle batteries.
The tester evaluated the battery under load, but the small batteries take a smaller load than auto batteries.
The parts store should test the battery for free.
Charging the battery fully before testing is best.

It may be something else, but usually it is the battery.

scoot safely

[SylSki]

I did as suggested on here....battery out, I checked the voltage (which doesn't mean anything), 13.85 volt's. Checked out a place to get the battery checked, taken there, battery checked out good, like new. So, went into my paper work, I purchased this unit, May 14, 2012. I haven't read the warranty value but am hoping all this is covered. Depending on the problem with it, I am going to look for a different brand scooter as I perviously mentioned. This unit I am finding is not like an earth shattering name as I am slowly finding. Reading and hearing report's of people attempting to get repair's, parts etc. maybe this is a sign I should do something not. I mean I babied this unit, servicing and caring for all of it and a simple thing like this. Yes, can happen on anything but again...as I wrote here previously..maybe it's a sign for me to go elsewhere. This unit looks good on the outside for sure but now I can't help thinking the inside's are a bit cheap.

[sissy mary]

Nothing is wrong with the Kymco X500. Just as dependable as any other brand. It could be a simple relay, wire not grounded right. Did you check your kill switch is not on? Bike will not crank if it is. I think a dealer could find problem in a few moments, and you will be on the road in no time. I think something is wrong in the starter/selonoid department? They can hang up. 

[SylSki]

Thanks sissy mary. When you say "starter/selonoid hanging up", are you saying this as not a broken area but a reset type work? If by chance it is a broken area, would you have any idea as to what could cause this in a fairly low mileage unit? I am noting here that there are not many X500 reader's/writer's on here as were before. Anyway, sissy mary, again, thank you for your input.

[htcneil2]

Ok over 45000 miles on 2009 kymco xciting 500ri. So every winter this has been an issue. However, im a simple man and i keep a battery jumper thing in my bike for cold starting in the morning. After it runs it should stay warmed up for the rest of the day, unless it sita for a ling time.

Still love the bike.

[SylSki]

Being I had the battery checked out and shown good on load, could that still mean the battery doesn't have enough power or AH to kick the unit over? Even when the unit always started, it seemed to me it was a slow crank not having strong power. Would this possibly be the nature of the starter ability
on these scooter's? I guess as a layman this is far as I can go with this and will have to call for a pickup and service. What is this "battery jumper" you're
talking about? Is it a portable jumper unit?

[Urbestfriend]

Sylski...Don't get downhearted.  First, my bike is a 250 and both the 250 and 500 are basically similar.  Owners of both models tend to flip back and forth between the two Forum subjects.  Second,  I've had three Kymcos and can't say other than these battery demons have I had much trouble.  10,000+ miles on each of these two bikes.  Don't know what the commercial cost is to pay a mechanic,  but I do all my own work.  For the price of having it done,  you may be able to buy a few tools + parts and have fun trying to figure out what's needed.  I find the Kymco's fairly easy to work on too.   My most prevalent issue was the defective speedo sensor that I put up with for a long time.  Found out on this forum it was redesigned,  got it, installed it and have had no issues since.   This forum is the most valuable resource.

Now forget the Trickle Charger...Do you have a bigger charger or can you jump the battery from your car?  Might be a good try,  if you haven't tried it yet.  By the way,  don't forget the Seafoam.