2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor

TXGWAGON · 10-03-2022, 05:00 PM

I have a 2001 Club Car with the FE290 motor. When I try to start the cart it will run strong for about 10 seconds and then the motor will "die". It will not restart immediately and I have to give it some time before trying again. I have checked the spark plug and it is wet after the motor dies. It will not restart if I dry the plug off.

I'm lost on trouble shooting this problem.

CP241 · 10-03-2022, 05:05 PM

Start by disconnecting the brown wire on the left side of the rev limiter. It’s below the valve cover just above the oil drain plug. It’s a ring terminal on a 10mm bolt on the left of that box.

Try that and see if it’s any better. If so your rev limiter has failed.

TXGWAGON · 10-03-2022, 05:13 PM

Rev Limiter has made no difference. What's next?

CP241 · 10-03-2022, 05:16 PM

Grab a spare spark plug. When it shuts down, quickly unplug the plug wire from the plug in the engine, hook it up to your spare plug. Hold it against the valve cover and crank the engine. See first, IF you have spark. And second, what color is the spark. White? Yellow? Blue?

TXGWAGON · 10-03-2022, 05:24 PM

I have spark and it looks White.

CP241 · 10-03-2022, 05:27 PM

White is generally not good. It should be bright and blue in color. White spark would indicate a weak coil.

But before digging into a coil (which isn’t a fun job) what does your compression look like? Have you tried cleaning your carb out and make sure the float needle seats fully and is not flooding the engine?

TXGWAGON · 10-03-2022, 05:40 PM

The spark is bright. And I say it is white, but it could potentially have a "Blueish" hue around it. I haven't spent much time comparing spark colors. Carb is new, it's a new cheap carb.

CP241 · 10-03-2022, 05:46 PM

Was it doing this before the carb replacement?

What spark plug are you using? Should be a NGK BP4ES (or BPR4ES as the BP4ES was discontinued)

I’ve not had many good experiences with cheap carbs. They often tend to flood the engine. Do you still have the original oem keihin carb? I’d give that a good cleaning

TXGWAGON · 10-03-2022, 05:52 PM

I'll try the old carb out this evening. More to come tomorrow.

TXGWAGON · 10-04-2022, 06:57 AM

Well, bad news. I can't find the old carb.

10-03-2022, 05:00 PM	#1
TXGWAGON Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 15	2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor I have a 2001 Club Car with the FE290 motor. When I try to start the cart it will run strong for about 10 seconds and then the motor will "die". It will not restart immediately and I have to give it some time before trying again. I have checked the spark plug and it is wet after the motor dies. It will not restart if I dry the plug off. I'm lost on trouble shooting this problem.

10-03-2022, 05:05 PM	#2
CP241 Nincompoop village idiot Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,690	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor Start by disconnecting the brown wire on the left side of the rev limiter. It’s below the valve cover just above the oil drain plug. It’s a ring terminal on a 10mm bolt on the left of that box. Try that and see if it’s any better. If so your rev limiter has failed.

10-03-2022, 05:13 PM	#3
TXGWAGON Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor Rev Limiter has made no difference. What's next?

10-03-2022, 05:16 PM	#4
CP241 Nincompoop village idiot Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,690	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor Grab a spare spark plug. When it shuts down, quickly unplug the plug wire from the plug in the engine, hook it up to your spare plug. Hold it against the valve cover and crank the engine. See first, IF you have spark. And second, what color is the spark. White? Yellow? Blue?

10-03-2022, 05:24 PM	#5
TXGWAGON Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor I have spark and it looks White.

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10-03-2022, 05:27 PM	#6
CP241 Nincompoop village idiot Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,690	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor White is generally not good. It should be bright and blue in color. White spark would indicate a weak coil. But before digging into a coil (which isn’t a fun job) what does your compression look like? Have you tried cleaning your carb out and make sure the float needle seats fully and is not flooding the engine?

10-03-2022, 05:40 PM	#7
TXGWAGON Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor The spark is bright. And I say it is white, but it could potentially have a "Blueish" hue around it. I haven't spent much time comparing spark colors. Carb is new, it's a new cheap carb.

10-03-2022, 05:46 PM	#8
CP241 Nincompoop village idiot Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,690	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor Was it doing this before the carb replacement? What spark plug are you using? Should be a NGK BP4ES (or BPR4ES as the BP4ES was discontinued) I’ve not had many good experiences with cheap carbs. They often tend to flood the engine. Do you still have the original oem keihin carb? I’d give that a good cleaning

10-03-2022, 05:52 PM	#9
TXGWAGON Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor I'll try the old carb out this evening. More to come tomorrow.

10-04-2022, 06:57 AM	#10
TXGWAGON Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Re: 2001 Club Car with FE290. Runs for 10 seconds then shuts down motor Well, bad news. I can't find the old carb.

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