SYMPTOMS A CARBURETOR IS GOING BAD

A golf cart carburetor is just like any other carburetor on a gas-powered vehicle.

However, when a carburetor starts to go out, your cart will still run.

That’s part of what makes it so tough to diagnose and troubleshoot problems with this part.

First of all, pay attention to how quickly it takes you to run out of gas when driving your cart.

Does it seem to run out a lot sooner than it did when you bought it?

That may just be down to wear and tear and aging.

If your fuel efficiency doesn’t seem heavily decreased, pay attention to how well your cart accelerates when you’re driving.

Does it feel just a little bit more sluggish than it did when you first purchased it?

There’s a good chance that your carburetor may be having a problem.

That’s because your carburetor helps to keep the cart running smoothly and with even and powerful acceleration.

Other problems that may affect your golf cart include regular overheating or backfiring.

These issues occur because your carburetor does not properly mix your fuel and it is much too lean for your cart.

As a result, it may stutter and struggle to run properly without help.

You may also see this problem trigger a steady cloud of black smoke as you drive that is quite nauseous.

Whatever the problem that your cart experiences, it is crucial to understand how to diagnose them before they become too persistent.

Typically, your cart will showcase a myriad of issues that will make it quite clear that your carburetor is struggling.

However, there are many differences between the cart models and manufacturers that may make this process a little harder to properly execute.

As a result, you must read through the following article to learn more about how to troubleshoot and adjust carburetors for each manufacturer.

We may pinpoint one or two carts for each of these companies or highlight a more general approach.

EZGO CART CARBURETOR TROUBLESHOOTING

EZGO manufactures many different carts, each gas model of which has a carburetor that may run into complications over time.

These issues are not uncommon with other cart manufacturers – however, some are more common in EZGO carts.

As a result, we’ve decided to showcase some of the most likely concerns you’re going to run into when trying to troubleshoot your carburetor.

And we’ll also make sure to showcase a few ways that you can adjust your carburetor to keep it running smoothly.

There are a handful of different adjustment methods that manufacturers have utilized over the years.

TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC TROUBLES

Your EZGO carburetor is likely to run into a handful of different problems that make it run less efficiently.

However, if you spot them quickly with these troubleshooting steps, you shouldn’t have any difficulties.

Just a few problems you may experience, along with the symptoms to watch for when troubleshooting include:

1. Gas Leak – Look for a worn or damaged inlet valve, problems with the float pin or bowl, gaskets, and vent tubes throughout your engine
2. Valve Seat – Your seat may be worn, damaged, dirty, or blocked, and cleaning it out may help to keep ti running smoothly again
3. Sludgy Acceleration – May show problems with blocked gas passages and issues with your tubes or jets that may need to be cleaned and managed
4. Air Filter Issues – As your air filter gets dirty, there’s a good chance that your golf cart isn’t going to run as smoothly as it once did in the past
5. Dirty Components – When the components of your carburetor aren’t properly cleaned, your engine may run poorly and have weak acceleration
6. Contaminated Hoses – Hoses that are filled with dirty, mold, and other items may make your cart run less efficiently and cause complications with its operation
7. Jet Troubles – The jets on your cart help to keep the carburetor running properly, and if they malfunction, you may end up with an inefficient or inoperative carburetor
8. Gas Flow Problems – If gasoline is not flowing to your engine properly, there’s a good chance that the carburetor won’t properly work and may malfunction or break down

ADJUSTING YOUR CARBURETOR

Almost every EZGO model you’ll find on the market can be adjusted in this simple way:

1. Open up your motor and find the carburetor on your engine – the location will vary
2. Find the idle jet screw – it should be labeled as such – and turn it one-quarter of its distance
3. Identify the cold valve on the cart and use a flat screwdriver to create a clearance of 0.004 mm
4. Close up your hood and start your cart to see how well it runs
5. Turn off the cart and repeat these steps if you have more issues

As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the most likely issues you’re going to see in your Yamaha cart and what is likely causing them in your carburetor:

1. Jerking Movements As You Drive – This problem could be a sign that you have a gas leak that is worsening on your cart and which needs repairs
2. Loud Noises When Running the Cart – Block air filters, worn or damaged parts, dirty valve seats, and poor gasoline mixes may all cause this issue with your cart
3. Sludgy Acceleration in Your Cart – If your cart accelerates but does so quite slowly, there’s a good change that your cart needs an adjusted choke
4. Backfiring as You Accelerate – Your cart is not mixing its gas properly and your carburetor needs to be replaced to keep it running smoothly
5. Surges in Speed As You Drive – Sudden surges in speed likely mean that you have a linkage issue with the governor that must be properly adjusted
6. Poor Gas Economy – This issue is common with just about any carburetor issue but is particularly common if your gas is leaking from your cart
7. Sudden Loss of Power – When this problem happens in your cart, there’s a good chance that your carburetor has failed completely and that you no longer get gas in it

ADJUSTING YOUR CARBURETOR

This method is appropriate for a Yamaha G9 cart and other carts similar to it:

1. Open up your cart hood to expose your carburetor and to make it easier to work upon
2. Find the pilot adjustment screw on the edge of your carburetor
3. Pay attention to this screw – it should be a sharp point and not flat
4. Carefully remove this screw and then carefully screw it back
5. Turn this screw out one and one-half turns to adjust it properly
6. Find the throttle stop screw and then push it backwards on its threads
7. Wait until the throttle shaft completely closes before you stop pushing
8. Now carefully turn this screw back one-quarter turn

These two options should give you the help that you need for a Yamaha cart:

1. Carefully unscrew the air mixture screw, which has a smooth instead of a sharp point
2. Turn it until it is slightly seated and then turn it out by one and one-half turn
3. Push the throttle’s stop screw along its shaft to close it completely
4. Turn the screw back one-quarter of a turn and keep it there
5. Use an air blower to softly blow air into the inlet to raise the float
6. Make sure that the float is level the carburetor’s base

CLUB CAR CARBURETOR TROUBLESHOOTING

The following questions are things that you need to ask yourself to ensure that your carburetor is not malfunctioning:

1. Is Your Cart Accelerating Poorly? – You may have a fuel flow issue that could be related to any number of issues, such as clogged fuel lines in the carburetor.
2. Are You Losing Fuel Efficiency in Your Cart? – When your carburetor is failing, your cart is going to start losing efficiency and may break down as you ride.
3. Does Your Cart Smell Bad As You Drive? – Bad smells from your cart’s exhaust could indicate a dirty air or fuel filter in your carburetor that causes it to burn fuel too hotly.
4. When You Drive, Does Your Cart Occasionally or Repeatedly Stall? – Repeated stalls or even an occasional one may indicate carburetor issues that must be monitored and repaired.
5. Do You Smell Gas or Run Out of Fuel Quickly? – Sometimes, carburetors develop gas leaks that may trigger problems with their operation and efficiency.

ADJUSTING YOUR CARBURETOR

Make sure that you pay careful attention to your cart’s operation as you adjust to make sure you don’t run into any complications:

1. Find the mixture screw and put it into a slightly sealed position from wherever it is located
2. Carefully turn the screw outside by at least one and one-half turns
3. Keep adjusting the screw slightly as needed until you reach the level you want
4. Pay attention the air filter housing and intake house as you adjust to avoid leaks
5. Replace the fuel filter when you are done to keep your air flow as smooth as possible

After 1998, you need to follow the steps outlined here:

1. Find the air and fuel mix screw that is as close to the engine as is possible
2. Locate this screw by seeking one that also has a steeper angle than other engine screws
3. Carefully turn the screw inward as your cart runs and listen to your engine’s operation
4. Once the engine’s operation starts to sound drastically different, stop turning the screw
5. Bring the screw back until the change in the engine disappears or evens out
6. Ride your cart to test how well you have adjusted your carburetor
7. Repeat these steps, as needed, to get your carburetor in great operational order