My Yamaha G22 turns over, has spark, but won’t start

My Yamaha G22 golf cart just won’t start. It turns over, there’s spark, but it just refuses to come to life. I’ve tried a few things, but nothing’s working. Has anyone else faced this issue? What did you do?

Response

I would give your carburetor a good cleaning. Once I did that, my G22 golf cart was back to running smoothly.

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Solutions that Worked for Users

Solution	Users Who Found Success	Approx. Cost (USD)	Approx. Time Needed (Minutes)
Replace Carburetor	1	$65 – $120	60 – 90
Check and Clean Carburetor	1	$0 – $20 (if DIY)	30 – 60
Replace Ignition Relay	1	$100 – $150	30 – 60

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Symptoms

• Golf cart turns over but won’t start.
• Spark is present, but the engine doesn’t ignite.
• Possible intermittent power or backfiring before complete failure.

Possible Causes

• Carburetor issues, such as clogs or dirt.
• Faulty ignition relay causing intermittent spark issues.
• Fuel delivery problems.

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Solutions that Worked

1. Replace Carburetor

• What I Did: Replaced the old carburetor with a new one.
• Outcome: The golf cart started and ran perfectly.
• Personal Experience: After trying everything, replacing the carburetor was the game-changer.
• Steps:
  1. Identify and remove the old carburetor.
  2. Install the new carburetor, ensuring all connections are secure.
  3. Test the golf cart for starting and running.
• Expert Tip: Sometimes, a deep clean isn’t enough, and a replacement is more cost-effective.

2. Check and Clean Carburetor

• What I Did: Thoroughly cleaned the carburetor.
• Outcome: Improved fuel flow and engine start.
• Personal Experience: Cleaning the carburetor resolved the starting issue.
• Steps:
  1. Remove the carburetor and disassemble it.
  2. Clean all parts with a carburetor cleaner.
  3. Reassemble and reinstall the carburetor.
• Expert Tip: Regular cleaning of the carburetor can prevent many start-up issues.

3. Replace Ignition Relay

• What I Did: Replaced the faulty ignition relay.
• Outcome: Consistent spark and successful engine start.
• Personal Experience: The new ignition relay fixed the intermittent spark issue.
• Steps:
  1. Locate and remove the old ignition relay.
  2. Install the new relay, ensuring proper connections.
  3. Test for spark consistency and engine start.
• Expert Tip: Ignition relays can wear out; timely replacement can save a lot of trouble.

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Golf Cart Models Where This Worked

• Yamaha G22 Golf Cart (2005 model)