2012TaoTao 50cc Will not shut off. By jamesa53 (Read 2,129 times)

[jamesa53]

I have a 2012 TaoTao 50cc scooter that will not shut off with either the key or the kill switch. You can remove the key and it still runs once started. You can activate the kill switch and it will not shut off. When the engine is off, the scooter will not crank with the kill switch activated. When the key is off, the instrument lamps are off. But the scooter still runs. Has anyone run into this problem and if so, how did you fix it? TIA.

[FACE PLANT FOR LIFE]

My brothers 2008 VIP does this and to be perfectly honest we still haven't figured out why. In fact, the bike will start and kick over without the keys in the ignition (theft hazard, anyone?). Sometimes it stops doing it and the ignition and kill switch work fine, though. So maybe it's a loose ground? I'm thinking it's a possibility, although I've checked all the grounds that I know of. Check your grounds and see if your grounds are loose (my dashboard lights flickered when I had a loose engine ground). I'm thinking that maybe the engine itself is not grounded properly to the frame, and that's why the kill switch and ignition will fail to work sometimes. Maybe somebody who knows more about motor mounting can pop in and tell us how to check the motor mount for proper grounding to the frame?

Edit: Wait, the spark plug can't fire if it's not grounded, right? So that can't be it..somewhere the CDI is not being grounded. Maybe it's a broken wire, then...Maybe you could trace back from the CDI to try to find the correct ground and make sure it's tight!

[Bashan]

AC fired CDI GY6s generate the spark from the stator to the CDI. Once spinning the engine generates it's spark without the battery. So you have to kill the spark through the ignition ground by turning the key off, or hitting the killswitch. They both do the same thing, they ground the black/white killwire that runs to the CDI. The killport is the one opposite the red/black AC feed in the CDI two connector. You can run a wire from there to a switch and ground the other side of the switch.

The alternative to this is taking the plastic off and using a multimeter to determine why the spark is not grounding out. I can help you with that but you will need to get the ignition switch exposed and take pics of your switch, wiring, and CDI. To answer A of N's question, set the multi to continuity and touch one probe to the valve cover, and the other to the black battery terminal. If the engine ground is solid you will get a tone. The engine ground is not the same as the ignition ground although they ultimately end up at the same spot. Here's how to test the ignition switch: 

Ignition Switch testing

[jamesa53]

So, if I understand what you are saying, the scooter continues to run because the CDI unit is failing to be grounded out via the killwire which grounds it. And there are two methods of applying this ground, the ignition switch and the kill switch, both of which operate independently? Is it possible that the CDI unit itself is defective causing this problem?

[FACE PLANT FOR LIFE]

It's a possibility. If you have an extra laying around, swap it out.

[Bashan]

May 12, 2014 8:55:54 GMT -6 jamesa53 said:

So, if I understand what you are saying, the scooter continues to run because the CDI unit is failing to be grounded out via the killwire which grounds it. And there are two methods of applying this ground, the ignition switch and the kill switch, both of which operate independently?

Yes, but they are both tied into the B/W and each can ground the spark through the same wire.

Hmmmmmm....yes, I guess the killport could be bad. OK, here's a simple test. Set your multi to continuity, unhook the black/white at the CDI, put one probe in the end of B/W, put the other probe on a good frame spot or black battery terminal. With the key off you should get a continuity tone, key on no tone. This is with killswitch on run. Now with the key on turn the killswitch to stop....you should get a tone again. Rich

[Bashan]

OK, here you go, a diagram. This diagram shows both AC and DC CDI feeds at the same time but it is ONE OR THE OTHER....NOT BOTH! Yours is AC, so ignore the DC feed into the CDI. But the principle is the same, the kill gets grounded at the key, or the killswitch. Rich

[jamesa53]

Fully agree with your B/W wire test. Ill start at the CDI unit and work my way backwards to the ignition and kill switches. I'd say that if the B/W wire at the CDI unit can be grounded either by turning the ign sw off or the kill switch on, that the CDI unit itself is defective. Will let you know how this goes, and thanks!!!!!!

[jvino]

Welcome these guys will get you squared away. welcome

[jamesa53]

You were 100 percent correct. When I began to remove the b/w wire connector to the CDI unit, it just fell out when my finger touched it. It must have been making enough contact with the AC terminal to run the bike. I verified that the wire was grounded with key on, killswitch on, and with key off, killswitch off. The connector was loose and not plugged in properly to the CDI unit, I pushed it in until I heard the click where it goes under the retainer. Verified operation and all works properly. It shuts off normally. Thanks very much!!! I will try to contribute here if it is something that I can help with.

[Bashan]

You're very welcome, don't be a stranger. Rich