Honda PCX125 - Owner's Manual > General Guidelines

Keeping your scooter well-maintained is the best way to reduce the possibility of having a problem on the road.

Remember to take along your owner's manual, the tool kit that came with your scooter, and any other items (such as tire repair supplies and additional tools) that might help you solve a problem on your own.

Should you ever have a problem while riding, please follow these guidelines:

• Always put personal safety first.
• Take time to assess the situation and your options before deciding what to do.
• If the problem is relatively minor and you have the tools, supplies, and skills to make a temporary repair, be sure to have permanent repairs made as soon as possible.
• Do not continue riding if you are hurt or your scooter is not in safe riding condition.

Additional recommendations for specific problems follow.

If Your Engine Quits or Won't Start

Proper operation and maintenance can prevent starting and engine performance problems. In many cases, the cause of the problem may be a simple operational oversight.

If you have a problem starting the engine - or experience poor engine performance - the following information may help you. If you can't correct the problem, see your Honda dealer.

If your scooter won't start, listen as you press the start button. If you don't hear the starter motor turning, refer to the Starter motor doesn't operate symptom. If you can hear the starter motor working normally, refer to the Starter motor works, but the engine won't start symptom.

If You Have a Flat Tire

A flat tire is always unwelcome, especially if you are far from help. If you think you are losing air, or you hit a pothole or hard object, pull safely to the side of the road so you can inspect the tires and assess the situation. (Be sure to park on a firm, level surface and use the center stand for support.) You should examine the tire treads and sidewalls for foreign objects or damage. If you find a tire that has been punctured or damaged, you have two options.

Option 1: Have Your Scooter Transported

If a tire has a major puncture or a cut in the tread or sidewall, or the bead has come loose from the rim, there is probably not much you can do except have your scooter transported to a Honda dealer or other qualified service facility. Even with a simple puncture, this may be the safest and least troublesome solution. For transporting instructions.

Option 2: Make a Temporary Roadside Repair

If a tire has only a minor nail puncture and is not completely flat, you may be able to make an emergency repair that could allow you to continue riding to where you can get the tire replaced or permanently repaired.

Riding your scooter with a temporary tire repair can be risky.

If the temporary repair fails, you can crash and be seriously injured or killed.

If you must ride with a temporary tire repair, ride slowly and carefully and do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h) until the tire is permanently repaired or replaced.

Due to the uncertainty of any temporary repair, you should ride slowly (not over 30 mph, 50 km/h) and carefully (preferably without a passenger or cargo) until the tire is replaced or permanently repaired. Stop frequently and check the air pressure. If the tire is losing pressure, it may be unsafe to continue riding. As the tire gets low, it will affect the handling of your scooter (especially with a passenger and cargo) and it may overheat and blow out.

Types of Temporary Repairs

The following types of temporary repairs generally require a source of air to inflate the tire. Possible sources include CO cartridges or cans of compressed air designed to inflate a tire.

• Inflate the tire: Tubeless tires have some self-sealing ability if they are punctured and the result is usually just a slow leak. If this is the case, you can try inflating the tire to see if it will hold air pressure. If you can see a nail or other object embedded in the tire tread, do not remove it at this time.
• Plug the hole: The idea here is to do something to temporarily stop the leak.

  If you have a tubeless tire repair kit, you can pull out the nail and try inserting an external plug in the puncture. Follow the instructions that came with the repair kit and be sure to inflate the tire to the correct pressure.

Should You Repair or Replace a Tire?

We strongly recommend that you replace, not permanently repair, any tire that is punctured or damaged, even if the tire has only a minor puncture. For a full discussion of repairs and replacement.

Emergency Wheel Removal/Installation

We recommend wheel removal be done only by your Honda dealer or another qualified mechanic. Do not attempt to remove the wheel on your own. Wheel removal requires mechanical skill and professional tools.

If Your Engine Overheats

Normally, the temperature of the coolant in the cooling system will rise to a level about midway between cold and boiling.

Hot weather may cause the temperature to rise higher than normal. So will temporary stress such as climbing a hill. If you're stuck in stop-and-go traffic, the temperature may climb some, but the radiator fan is designed to prevent overheating. Be aware of these variations.

If the high coolant temperature indicator comes on for no apparent reason, pull safely to the side of the road.

If possible, park in a shady area.

Continuing to ride with an overheated engine can cause serious engine damage.

• A steaming engine indicates a coolant leak. Shut the engine off and wait until the steaming stops. Look for a leak, but don't touch the engine or radiator system. Let everything cool off first.
• If there's no obvious problem, leave the engine on so the fan and coolant circulating system can continue working. Monitor the high coolant temperature indicator. The indicator may turn off after a brief stop with no load on the engine.
• If the reserve tank is low or empty, don't ride without adding coolant.

  After adding coolant, turn the engine on and check the high coolant temperature indicator.

  If the indicator doesn't turn off, do not ride. The engine needs repair. Transport your scooter to a Honda dealer.
  If the temperature drops to normal, check the coolant level. If it has gone down, add more coolant.
  If you are able to resume riding, continue to monitor the high coolant temperature indicator frequently.
  If there's a mild leak, you can ride for awhile, carefully watching the indicator.

  Be prepared to stop and add more coolant or water. If the leak is bad, transport your scooter to a Honda dealer.

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