You might find yourself having to choke your golf cart before it’ll start. It can get rather old having to do it every time. So, why do you have to choke your golf cart in the first place? First, let’s identify the reasons why you have to choke your golf cart to get it to start.
Reasons Why You Have to Choke Your Golf Cart to Get it to Start
The choke is used to inject fuel into the engine so that it can start. There are a few reasons why you have to choke your golf cart in order for it to start. Some of the most common are:
- A dirty carburetor
- The engine is cold or hasn’t run in a while
- You’ve been using dirty gas
- The fuel filter is dirty or clogged
- There’s a problem with your spark plugs or wires
- Your fuel tank is contaminated thus diluting the gas
Before we get into how you can fix your golf cart so that you don’t have to choke it, let’s go over the basics of what a choke is.
What is a Choke on a Golf Cart?
A choke is a device that restricts the flow of air to the engine which in turn sucks more fuel. You can use it when starting your golf cart in cold temperatures to start it easier. The choke is located in the air intake in front of the carburetor on most golf carts. It looks like a tiny flap of metal that prevents airflow into the carburetor when closed. When open, it allows air into the carb where fuel is then mixed with it before being sent into the engine’s cylinders for ignition.
There are two types of chokes: manual, and electric. Manual chokes are usually opened or closed by a lever on the cart engine. Manual chokes are operated by hand with a pull out knob. Electric or EGR chokes use an electric motor to open and close the air intake for the engine depending on outside conditions.
7 Common Fixes for having to Choke your Golf Cart all the Time
There are a few problems that you may experience with golf cart chokes. Being able to diagnose these problems and fix them will have your golf cart working better and result in you having to choke your golf cart less. Here are some common problems you may be experiencing with choking your golf cart:
Cart Runs Only When Choke is On
This is normally due to a blockage in the fuel line. Another cause is the accumulation of dirt or other debris in the carburetor. To fix this issue, check for any blockages in the fuel line and other engine components. If you don’t find the issue, you may have to dive deeper and inspect the carburetor to clean it out.
Engine Flooding
A common issue that many people experience is flooding. If your golf cart is flooded when sitting too long, it won’t start right away and needs to be re-choked. This means that there’s too much gas in the carburetor and the engine needs more time for it all to work itself out before trying again. To fix this, just choke it like normal and let it sit for about ten minutes so the excess fuel can run out of the exhaust system before trying again.
Using Dirty or Old Gas
When you use dirty gas in any vehicle, it causes issues for starting them if their carburetors are gummed up or their filters are too dirty to filter out the dirt found in the gas. The fuel pump will not work as efficiently and you may need the choke to get enough fuel in there. Always make sure to use fuel stabilizer so your fuel doesn’t gum up as golf carts tend to sit around a lot.
Dirty Spark Plugs
To get rid of excess fuel residue, clean off your spark plugs with a wire brush so they have more contact electricity at higher speeds which makes your golf cart run more smoothly without stalling. Dirt on your spark plugs causes misfires which is bad for the engine.
Electric Choke Problems
If you notice that you’re not getting any electricity to your spark plug or it’s low, then check to make sure the main cable isn’t loose from where it connects with your battery terminals. If there’s a problem there, tighten it up and it should start back up again after doing so. You also want to make sure that your engine ground cables are in good condition because if they’re corroded they’ll be holding off voltage from going through them and powering your engine. Make sure these connections are clean before trying to start your golf cart again.
Incorrect Timing
If you find that your golf cart starts too fast or revs up high, then the timing might be a little off. One problem could be that your engine is out of time, or another especially if it has been worked on lately is that your spark plug wires are not in the right firing order which is going to cause it to run incorrectly because the engine won’t have enough time to build up enough pressure for propulsion until all of them are moving at once.
The best thing to do would be to check over where they connect with the spark plugs and make sure each one is connected securely. Make sure none of them are touching another wire either as this could lead to sparks flying out from metal-on-metal contact which can cause problems so always double-check wire connections before trying again.
Use Proper Choke Techniques
It’s important to use the right choke technique when trying to get a good start with your golf cart because if you don’t do it correctly, then your engine will flood and cause misfires. To use this method, bring your throttle up halfway while choking and then roll them at the same time for three seconds. You want to set your choke out completely after doing so. This should help prevent flooding issues from happening in the future so always remember these steps when trying again.
Why Do You Need to Choke a Golf Cart all the time?
Your golf cart will not start on its own because no fuel flows into the engine until it’s running, so you need to choke your golf cart before it will start. A new engine should fire right up when flooded with gas. If you live in an extremely cold climate, the choke is critical for getting your golf cart to start. When using a choke, use it sparingly so you don’t allow too much gas to enter the carburetor. If done correctly, your engine will have enough power to idle safely while being warmed up. If you have to choke a golf cart more than a couple of times, you may need to adjust the carburetor so it runs better in certain weather.
If your golf cart isn’t giving enough power to get going, don’t worry about choking it until its engine is warmed up. Most likely when this happens it’s because gas has gotten too cold and needs to be thawed out before it will flow again. If your engine is warm enough, you should be able to start without choking. Choking works great for older, weaker engines because it feeds them the fuel they need to get going.
How Many Times Should I Have to Choke My Golf Cart Before It Starts?
It depends on outside conditions and how much fuel is in the carburetor already. If your thermometer reads below freezing, choking will help get your golf cart’s engine going. If it isn’t that cold, but still cool, you should be able to start up normally as long as there’s enough gas in the carburetor. It also may need to be choked if you are starting it for the first time that day.
When Should I Choke My Golf Cart?
Whenever necessary outside conditions call for it. If it’s cold or you haven’t started it in a while and your golf cart won’t start right away, you might need to choke it. Choking gets more important when temperatures are low since colder air contains less oxygen which makes starting engines more difficult. Just make sure not to leave the choke on once the engine has up completely started. Otherwise, you’ll flood the engine.
You’re Ready to Hit the Course!
Starting a gas-powered golf cart can be difficult, especially in the winter. Luckily, you have some quick and easy troubleshooting techniques you can use to get your engine running again. If you follow these steps closely then you should be able to get things started up again in no time!
