Why Won't My Golf Cart Start? [Top 18 Reasons & Fixes]

If your golf cart won’t start, it can be frustrating. It’s important to know the top reasons why this might happen and how to fix them.

In this blog post, we will outline the top X reasons why your golf cart won’t start and provide tips on how to solve the issue.

Stay calm and follow our guide – before you know it, you’ll be back out on the green!

Why Won’t My Golf Cart Start?

There are 18 reasons why your golf cart won’t start.

We’re sure you’re itching to get your golf cart running again, so we’ll quickly list them for you, then break them down (along with ways to fix them) below.

We’ve listed these with the simplest causes first, so we recommend trying each in order:

The Golf Cart Isn’t In Park
Dead Battery
You’re Out Of Gas (Gas Golf Carts Only)
Loose Battery Connection
Disconnected Ignition Wire
Failed Microswitches
Blown Or Tripped Fuse
Reverse Warning Buzzer Disconnected
Clogged Or Dirty Air Filter
Dirty Or Corroded Spark Plugs
Clogged Carburetor (Gas Golf Carts Only)
Worn Out Key Switch
Failed Foot Switch or Accelerator Pedal
Bad Solenoid
Bad Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, Or Diaphragm (Gas Golf Carts Only)
Wiring Problems
Bad Starter
Exhaust Issues (Gas Golf Carts Only)
Golf Cart Controller Problems

So, there you have it. These are the most common reasons your golf cart won’t start.

It seems overwhelming, but diagnosing and fixing a golf cart not starting isn’t too tough.

We’ll walk through how to inspect and fix each problem below.

Golf Cart Isn’t In Park

This is pretty simple: if your golf cart isn’t in park, it won’t start.

Make sure you’re in park (or neutral) before trying to start the engine.

Dead Battery

This is one of the simpler things to check, which is why we put it near the top of our lists for reasons why your golf cart isn’t starting.

Test the battery with a voltmeter before and after charging it to see if the battery is holding a charge – if it won’t hold one or if it can’t be recharged, you’ll need a new golf cart battery.

Recharge or replace the battery to get your golf cart up and running again.

You’re Out Of Gas

If you’re out of gas, your golf cart won’t start.

Sometimes the fuel gauge can go bad or give an incorrect reading, making you think you’ve got gas in the tank but in reality you may not.

Fill up the tank and try again.

You might also need to clean the carburetor if you’ve been running on fumes for a while – more information on that below!

Loose Battery Connection

Sometimes your golf cart not starting can be as simple as the wires on your battery coming loose, which can happen due to corrosion on the terminals or just from them being jostled around during the cart’s operation.

Tighten them up (clean the terminals as well), and see if that fixes the problem.

Disconnected Ignition Wire

The ignition wire goes from the “key hole” in your golf cart to the starter solenoid, and it can often become unplugged or knocked loose during regular use.

Reconnect the ignition wire and try starting your golf cart again.

If this doesn’t work and you suspect the wire has gone bad, you can test it with a voltmeter to make sure.

Failed Microswitches

Your golf cart has microswitches on the gas pedal that send signals to the rest of your cart for different functions.

If these switches are disconnected, damaged, or dirty, they can give your golf cart a “no-start” condition.

Try disconnecting them and cleaningth Replace or fix the microswitch to get your golf cart running properly again.

Blown Or Tripped Fuse

Both gas and electric golf carts use fuses, and your golf cart’s starter relies on a fuse to pass electricity through it to get things up and running.

Open the fuse box and replace any blown fuses to get your golf cart up and running once more.

You can usually find the golf cart’s fuse box near the battery or underneath the seat.

Take a look to see if you have any blown, flipped, or tripped fuses, and either reseat or replace them as necessary and see if your cart will start up.

Reverse Warning Buzzer Disconnected

Some newer gas and electric golf carts have a buzzer or beep when you put it in reverse mode.

Certain golf cart models will not allow the cart to start if this has been disabled or if the alarm has been disengaged.

To check this, consult your golf cart’s wiring diagram and plug the cable to the buzzer back in, which should get your cart started right back up.

Clogged Or Dirty Air Filter

If the air filter interacts with your carburetor, and a clogged air filter can either reduce your engine efficiency or cause your engine not to run completely.

This is a very simple and cheap repair, and one you should do as part of your golf cart maintenance routine anyway.

Clean or replace the air filter to see if that fixes the problem.

Dirty Or Corroded Spark Plugs

Your gas golf cart’s engine relies on spark plugs to be set properly and be in good working order in order to start and stay running.

Spark plugs can get clogged or dirty from oil, dampening their performance.

The “gap” which sets the timing on when the spark plugs provide a spark for your gas engine can also get out of whack, which can cause further issues.

There are also spark plug wires that can become damaged or worn over time.

First, check your spark plug wires to ensure they’re in good condition (no frays) and that they’re seated properly.

Next, move on to either replacing or adjusting your spark plugs.

If you don’t know what you’re doing here, be sure to check out a golf repair shop near you to have this work performed

It’s not too complicated if you’re up to trying it yourself.

Clean or replace the spark plugs and re-set the gaps to get your golf cart back in action.

Clogged Carburetor

If the carburetor is clogged, your golf cart won’t start.

Fuel can get trapped in the golf cart carburetor and will make it hard or impossible for you to start your cart.

Clean the carburetor with a carburetor cleaner to unclog it and get your engine running smoothly once more.

If that doesn’t work, you can either replace the part yourself or take it to a golf cart mechanic.

Fortunately, this part is cheap (usually around $20) and pretty simple to install, so you should consider giving it a shot.

Worn Out Key Switch

Your golf cart key switch is what sends an electrical signal to your engine after you put the key in and turn it.

If the key switch is worn out, that electrical signal will not get passed on, so your cart won’t start.

There are several different issues that can occur with a golf cart key switch:

-Loose wires coming from the key switch to the solenoid

-Mechanical issues with the key switch (gears are worn down)

If it’s a loose wire issue, you may be able to resolve it yourself by retightening or replacing the wire.

A key switch replacement requires a bit more know-how so you should consider reaching out to a local golf cart mechanic.

Failed Foot Switch (Pedal)

The foot switch is what you also might call your gas pedal.

While you may not consider this as part related to starting your golf cart, the pedal actually sends an electrical signal to the starter and engine to get your cart started.

If the pedal is worn out or the wires are loose or damaged, that signal can’t get sent, so your golf cart will be stuck.

To test this, push the pedal down. Do you hear anything? Will your cart move?

If not, then this may be your problem.

Test the wiring and see if you can diagnose where the problem will be.

If you can’t diagnose this issue, it may be time to take your cart to a local repair shop for a pedal replacement (or you can try this on your own).

Have the foot switch (or pedal) replaced to get your golf cart going again.

Bad Solenoid

Most older golf carts use several solenoids that set the speed as well as moving the cart forward or in reverse.

Newer electric golf carts typically use one solenoid that powers the cart’s controller.

If you don’t hear a clicking sound when you press the accelerator pedal and the cart is on and in gear, you may have a bad solenoid.

Test it with a voltmeter to see if it reads properly (0.0-0.4 volts).

If the reading is higher, you probably have a bad solenoid and you’ll need to replace or fix it before your golf cart will start.

Fuel System Issues

Gas golf carts have fuel systems just like regular vehicles do, and they have different individual issues that can arise.

Failed fuel pumps, dirty fuel filters, and bad diaphragms can all cause issues where your golf cart will not start.

These can be a little more complex in nature to diagnose and fix, so consider reaching out to a local golf cart mechanic unless you have prior experience working on fuel systems.

Wiring Problems

Wiring issues are much more common in electric golf carts than gas models, but it can happen to both.

If your cart is electric, you’ll find that there are many more solenoids that bring power to the different components in your golf cart.

Newer electric models may only have a single solenoid.

If you have a golf cart wiring diagram for your year, make, and model, you can typically test the different wires for their functions with a voltmeter.

Once you find the wire causing the issue, simply replace or tighten it depending on what’s needed to get your golf cart up and running again.

Bad Starter

The starter generator is responsible for bringing electrical power from the battery to the starter, which then gets the engine running.

So a bad starter means your golf cart won’t start!

Rust/corrosion, frayed or loose wiring, or just old age are all things that can affect your golf cart starter operation.

Replace or fix the starter to get your engine going once more.

This is not an easy repair, so only attempt it if you have mechanical experience.

Exhaust Issues

Gas golf carts use a muffler system just like regular cars to dissipate engine fumes.

If these fumes can’t escape, it can result in engine problems like your cart not starting.

Check the muffler and piping to clean it and make sure there are no rodent issues, bees nests, or something else stuck in your exhaust system.

Golf Cart Controller Problems

Your golf cart’s controller meters out voltage and current on your battery based on different inputs like your gas pedal and throttle.

If the controller needs replacing, you won’t be able to move your golf cart, and it can also cause it not to start.

Diagnosing golf cart controller problems can be a complex process, and is best left to a golf cart repair mechanic near you.

Why Won’t My Golf Cart Start? Wrapping Things Up

In conclusion, there are several things that can go wrong with your golf cart and prevent it from starting.

There are many potential causes, but start with the easiest and simplest reasons first and work your way through to save yourself time and frustration.

If you’re not comfortable diagnosing or fixing the issue yourself, find golf cart repair near you for assistance.

Thanks for reading!

Check out our other helpful golf cart guides while you’re here:

Why Won’t My Golf Cart Start? [Top 18 Reasons & Fixes]