Post by taotao on Aug 27, 2015 22:50:25 GMT -6
My Tao Tao scooter has been working great, until I tried to fi the rear brake light. I thought it needed a new bulb but it turns out that the bulb was not being pushed in far enough into the socket to stay lit. I couldn't figure out how to fix this and make the light bulb sit in the socket deeper. The base of the bulb has a little notch that keeps it in place inside the socket, but something must have happened because it does not go in far enough to stay lit. The bulb works if I push it in another 1/4 inch and hold it all the way down inside the socket.
After messing around for a while the bulb kind of sparked up and I could no longer get the brake light to turn on, even when I pushed and held it all the way down inside the socket. At this point I said screw it and I tried to start up the scooter with the electric push start. The scooter did not start. This has never happened until now. The electric push start does not make any noises or clicking when I push it. I tried holding both the left and right brakes down and starting it, and made sure the kill switch was in the right position. The push start button is kind of falling out of the dash and is held on by tape. However it has always worked fine and I do not think this is the problem.
The problem definitely seems like it was caused by the sparks from putting the lightbulb in the socket and trying to get the brake light to work. After one particular attempt, it seemed to kill or fry all power on the scooter.
Luckily the kick start still works, and the lights turn on when I kick start it. The brake light still does not work obviously. The horn also works but at about 30-40% power compared to before. However the lights do not turn on when I put the key in (like they used to), only when I kick start the scooter and get it going.
Does this mean I fried the battery? Or perhaps just blew a fuse or connection? I have read that the brake light and the ignition are linked, so this would make sense if maybe I blew this wire or something?
Would appreciate any help or recommendations. I am not a mechanic but am definitely would like to try and fix it.
Scooter only has about 800 miles on it and has not been used much at all.
Thank you
After messing around for a while the bulb kind of sparked up and I could no longer get the brake light to turn on, even when I pushed and held it all the way down inside the socket. At this point I said screw it and I tried to start up the scooter with the electric push start. The scooter did not start. This has never happened until now. The electric push start does not make any noises or clicking when I push it. I tried holding both the left and right brakes down and starting it, and made sure the kill switch was in the right position. The push start button is kind of falling out of the dash and is held on by tape. However it has always worked fine and I do not think this is the problem.
The problem definitely seems like it was caused by the sparks from putting the lightbulb in the socket and trying to get the brake light to work. After one particular attempt, it seemed to kill or fry all power on the scooter.
Luckily the kick start still works, and the lights turn on when I kick start it. The brake light still does not work obviously. The horn also works but at about 30-40% power compared to before. However the lights do not turn on when I put the key in (like they used to), only when I kick start the scooter and get it going.
Does this mean I fried the battery? Or perhaps just blew a fuse or connection? I have read that the brake light and the ignition are linked, so this would make sense if maybe I blew this wire or something?
Would appreciate any help or recommendations. I am not a mechanic but am definitely would like to try and fix it.
Scooter only has about 800 miles on it and has not been used much at all.
Thank you