2020 Lifan xpect won't start

mandy0302 · 10-12-2020, 10:43 AM

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie. I bought a brand new lifan xpect because I thought it'd be a good bike to learn on. I put the handlebars together, put fresh oil and gas in it, and charged the battery. I started it up and it sounded fine the first day. Next day went out and tried to start it, and it won't start. The orange check engine light is on too. Since this is my first bike, I haven't learned much about how to work on it yet. My dad showed me how to check the spark plug (I'm getting spark). Sprayed starting fluid into it and it does start for a minute and then stops. So I don't think it's the engine. It appears that I'm not getting fuel and I'm not sure why (the valve is open).

I also see that there is a diagnostic plug (the red one). Does anybody know if there is a reader for sale that I can buy to help me figure out what is wrong.

Any help anyone can give me would be appreciated. Thanks.

**JerryHawk250** · 10-12-2020, 10:55 AM

Sounds like a fuel issue. I would check the connectors going to the injectors first and make sure it is plugged in all the way then check connection to ECU. It could also need the valves adjusted. Most of these China bikes come with the valves set too tight ad will cause all kinds of starting issues. If it still doesn't start then i would contact American Lifan. I'm sure there must be a procedure to read the code. Being that there is a check engine light i would assume the injector is not working or ECU.

DeCoY · 10-12-2020, 10:35 PM

Make sure you're not missing the super obvious stuff, like the fuel petcock is set to off, or the kill switch accidentally got bumped.

Arkbill · 10-13-2020, 08:52 AM

I have a 2020 X-pect and found the petcock to be very confusing. I actually disconected the fuel line at the petcock to be sure which position would allow fuel to flow.

Also I would check to see if you can hear the fuel pump run as you turn the key on. It should run for about a second.

The valves were tight on my engine too.

mandy0302 · 10-13-2020, 01:51 PM

Thanks everyone. I made sure the fuel is flowing. Also disconnected the fuel lines to make sure there were no clogs anywhere. The fuel pump is working. It's flowing all the way to the fuel injector. Pulled the injector out of the chamber, and tried to start it to see if the gas was coming out of the injector. Nothing coming out of the injector. So I think it might be a relay or the injector itself. Now I have to try to find parts. If anyone has any tips on that please let me know.

Thanks for your help everyone!

**JerryHawk250** · 10-13-2020, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandy0302

Thanks everyone. I made sure the fuel is flowing. Also disconnected the fuel lines to make sure there were no clogs anywhere. The fuel pump is working. It's flowing all the way to the fuel injector. Pulled the injector out of the chamber, and tried to start it to see if the gas was coming out of the injector. Nothing coming out of the injector. So I think it might be a relay or the injector itself. Now I have to try to find parts. If anyone has any tips on that please let me know.

Thanks for your help everyone!

Contact American Lifan. The bike should still be under warranty. They are one of the very few that will stand behind there products. Who did you buy the bike from?

kdummitt · 10-13-2020, 05:48 PM

I just purchased from Moto Pro - same result - they will not correct the issue. My battery will not hold a charge. Not sure if it is the battery or something else at this point. Does anyone know where I can buy a batter for 2020 X-Pect.

Magician16 · 10-13-2020, 06:06 PM

Measure battery size and to to chromebattery.com.

bored stiff · 10-18-2020, 06:29 PM

contact american lifan in california ask for smily, he runs the place and is a great help

mandy0302 · 10-18-2020, 06:32 PM

Thanks! I did contact them about a week ago. They contacted the dealer, and they're going to send me a new injector. Hopefully, that'll take care of the problem.

culcune · 10-20-2020, 10:30 AM

I am fairly certain the Amazon seller is powersportsmax.com

From what I understand, they sell several brands of Chinese bikes at dirt-cheap prices because they get kickback checks direct from the manufacturer in China (bonuses as opposed to making any real profits directly from each sale). They are probably directly Chinese-run (as opposed to a Chinese-American owner here in the US), so don't seem to know or understand customer service. Either way, Lifan does back their bikes with a 2 year warranty so should be covering any issues for anyone. Glad to see they are sending a new injector. What are the prices vs. powersportsmax?

Stan Kepenky · 10-15-2023, 10:00 AM

Lifan Xpect 200cc issue is similar. My steps and knowledge so far. It has spark. It starts with gas sprayed in the throttle body. Injector sprays weak for 3-5 pulses and stops. If I try to start it off and on several times in a row, those 3-5 pulses added together get it to sputter and start a second. I choked the throttle body w my hand and got it to start randomly for short periods or by removing the idle valve hose from the left side of throtle body and pulsing it by hand. I replaced the injector with a 12 volt light and it pulses for 3 to 5 seconds and shuts off every time I press the start button... Verifying my first sentence. 9 volt battery holds the injector open just fine and I can blow through it. Unplugged iat, O2, adjusted tps. No change. Jumpered to car battery to be sure getting enough amps. No change. Supposedly the throttle position sensor tells the injector to pulse. I don't know what the programming of the ECU is. Would be nice to have an OBD scanner that fits this thing

clash 168cc · 10-15-2023, 09:45 PM

The head temp sensor can cause the same havoc. I had the same problem with my 2012 van. I unplugged the Temp sensor and the computer compensated. Not sure how elaborate these bike EFI systems are.

10-12-2020, 10:43 AM	#1
mandy0302 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: michigan Posts: 4	2020 Lifan xpect won't start Hi everyone, I'm a newbie. I bought a brand new lifan xpect because I thought it'd be a good bike to learn on. I put the handlebars together, put fresh oil and gas in it, and charged the battery. I started it up and it sounded fine the first day. Next day went out and tried to start it, and it won't start. The orange check engine light is on too. Since this is my first bike, I haven't learned much about how to work on it yet. My dad showed me how to check the spark plug (I'm getting spark). Sprayed starting fluid into it and it does start for a minute and then stops. So I don't think it's the engine. It appears that I'm not getting fuel and I'm not sure why (the valve is open). I also see that there is a diagnostic plug (the red one). Does anybody know if there is a reader for sale that I can buy to help me figure out what is wrong. Any help anyone can give me would be appreciated. Thanks.
	0

10-12-2020, 10:55 AM	#2
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,713	Sounds like a fuel issue. I would check the connectors going to the injectors first and make sure it is plugged in all the way then check connection to ECU. It could also need the valves adjusted. Most of these China bikes come with the valves set too tight ad will cause all kinds of starting issues. If it still doesn't start then i would contact American Lifan. I'm sure there must be a procedure to read the code. Being that there is a check engine light i would assume the injector is not working or ECU. __________________ 2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	1

10-13-2020, 08:52 AM	#4
Arkbill Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 26	Petcock I have a 2020 X-pect and found the petcock to be very confusing. I actually disconected the fuel line at the petcock to be sure which position would allow fuel to flow. Also I would check to see if you can hear the fuel pump run as you turn the key on. It should run for about a second. The valves were tight on my engine too. __________________ 2018 Brozz 250 Sold 2020 Brozz 250 Sold 2017 Lifan KP 200 2021 Lifan X-pect 200
	2

10-13-2020, 01:51 PM	#5
mandy0302 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: michigan Posts: 4	fuel injector? Thanks everyone. I made sure the fuel is flowing. Also disconnected the fuel lines to make sure there were no clogs anywhere. The fuel pump is working. It's flowing all the way to the fuel injector. Pulled the injector out of the chamber, and tried to start it to see if the gas was coming out of the injector. Nothing coming out of the injector. So I think it might be a relay or the injector itself. Now I have to try to find parts. If anyone has any tips on that please let me know. Thanks for your help everyone!
	0

10-18-2020, 06:29 PM	#9
bored stiff Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: New York Posts: 53	what to expect from the x pect contact american lifan in california ask for smily, he runs the place and is a great help
	3

10-12-2020, 10:35 PM	#3
DeCoY Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 26	Make sure you're not missing the super obvious stuff, like the fuel petcock is set to off, or the kill switch accidentally got bumped.
	1

10-13-2020, 05:48 PM	#7
kdummitt Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1	I just purchased from Moto Pro - same result - they will not correct the issue. My battery will not hold a charge. Not sure if it is the battery or something else at this point. Does anyone know where I can buy a batter for 2020 X-Pect.
	0

10-13-2020, 06:06 PM	#8
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 472	Measure battery size and to to chromebattery.com.
	1

10-18-2020, 06:32 PM	#10
mandy0302 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: michigan Posts: 4	Thanks! I did contact them about a week ago. They contacted the dealer, and they're going to send me a new injector. Hopefully, that'll take care of the problem.
	2

10-20-2020, 10:30 AM	#11
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,056	I am fairly certain the Amazon seller is powersportsmax.com From what I understand, they sell several brands of Chinese bikes at dirt-cheap prices because they get kickback checks direct from the manufacturer in China (bonuses as opposed to making any real profits directly from each sale). They are probably directly Chinese-run (as opposed to a Chinese-American owner here in the US), so don't seem to know or understand customer service. Either way, Lifan does back their bikes with a 2 year warranty so should be covering any issues for anyone. Glad to see they are sending a new injector. What are the prices vs. powersportsmax? __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	1

10-15-2023, 10:00 AM	#12
Stan Kepenky Join Date: Oct 2023 Posts: 1	Lifan Xpect 200cc issue is similar. My steps and knowledge so far. It has spark. It starts with gas sprayed in the throttle body. Injector sprays weak for 3-5 pulses and stops. If I try to start it off and on several times in a row, those 3-5 pulses added together get it to sputter and start a second. I choked the throttle body w my hand and got it to start randomly for short periods or by removing the idle valve hose from the left side of throtle body and pulsing it by hand. I replaced the injector with a 12 volt light and it pulses for 3 to 5 seconds and shuts off every time I press the start button... Verifying my first sentence. 9 volt battery holds the injector open just fine and I can blow through it. Unplugged iat, O2, adjusted tps. No change. Jumpered to car battery to be sure getting enough amps. No change. Supposedly the throttle position sensor tells the injector to pulse. I don't know what the programming of the ECU is. Would be nice to have an OBD scanner that fits this thing
	0

10-15-2023, 09:45 PM	#13
clash 168cc Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 94	The head temp sensor can cause the same havoc. I had the same problem with my 2012 van. I unplugged the Temp sensor and the computer compensated. Not sure how elaborate these bike EFI systems are.
	0