Ezgo surging and cutting out

[Brooktrout]

Hello All,
My mother has a 20 year old gas Ezgo. This week it started cutting out. It doesn't matter if you feather the throttle or keep it floored, it will stall and then go for a few seconds. Stall, and then run for a few seconds. It has to be some kind of fuel problem I'm guessing. Any ideas?
Thank you in advance.

[golfcartg]

It sounds like the issue with your mother’s EZGO could indeed be related to fuel delivery, particularly due to varnishing from old fuel. With today’s fuel blends, gasoline can start to degrade in as little as six months. As it deteriorates, it can leave behind a varnish-like residue that clogs small passages in the carburetor, leading to inconsistent fuel delivery. This could explain why the cart is stalling and then briefly running again, it’s likely getting fuel intermittently as the carburetor struggles to draw in enough through the tiny clogged passages.

To address this, start by pumping out the old fuel from the gas tank and replacing it with fresh, clean gasoline. This helps so that any potential issues aren’t exacerbated by degraded fuel. Next, disconnect the main fuel line from the carburetor, activate the pedal and observe whether there’s a steady pulse of fuel coming out when you turn the engine over. This pulse confirms that fresh fuel is reaching the carburetor, meaning the issue is likely within the carb itself rather than a broader fuel delivery problem.

Once you’ve confirmed fuel is reaching the carburetor, you can focus your efforts there. Sonic cleaning the carburetor might be necessary to remove any varnish or debris that’s clogging the jets or passages. You can do this by removing the carburetor, disassembling it, and cleaning it thoroughly with carb cleaner and a guitar string. Pay close attention to the tiny passages and jets, as these are most prone to clogging. Additionally, make sure to check the condition of the fuel filter and replace it if needed. A clogged fuel filter can also contribute to inconsistent fuel flow compounding the issues with the carburetor. If you have any questions feel free to ask!