1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

I have been working on trying to get this 1989 par car running for over a year now. So far I have replaced the piston rings, head gasket, reed valve, fuel filter, spark plug, solenoid, coil, and rebuilt and cleaned the carb. Before the winter, it would start if I sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and would drive but with minimal power and occasionally "jerk" like it was miss firing or skipping a beat. Now I am unable to get it to start and I don't see any fuel pulling from the tank into the fuel pump. Does the fuel pump need to be "primed" or filled with gas before it will actually pump gas or has it gone bad since last year? Anything else that might be wrong? I desperately need to get this running so I can sell it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

In a perfectly performing system the fuel pump does not primed. There should be a check valve at the end of the gas line in the tank that prevents back flow. These fuel systems are vacuum-based though and, as engines lose vacuum over time, the fuel delivery gets worse and worse.

There can be a lot of causes of poor fuel delivery but you already addressed many of that (reeds, bad rings, carb issue, etc.). There are other causes though:

The fuel pump itself is bad. You can rebuild that one, get a new one, or convert to an electric pump. Regarding a new pump, any 3 line vacuum pump should work. Personally, I only use electric pumps but that's just me.

Poor crankcase vacuum is probably the biggest reason for poor fuel draw. That can be due to bad crank seals or leaks between the case halves themselves.

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

Priming also helps. I have used a priming bulb from an old outboard engine. I have one cart with the pump bulb still installed.

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

I guess it depends on what kind of carb/pump you have. The older Tillotsons are known to have priming issues. I don't have a check valve and mine primes just fine. Yours being a newer model, I'd assume yours shouldn't have priming issues.

The check valve in the tank could have frozen closed. Take off the check valve and remove the line from the carb and see if it pumps when you crank it.

I don't believe there is a check valve on the bed of the fuel line in the tank...

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

Supposed to be one there. It is made inside the fuel strainer. Maybe someone already taken it off.

If not you should still pull the line off the carb and see if it pumps. Also you can take an old coke bottle or something and rig it so where it gravity feeds fuel to the pump and see if that does anything.

There is an inline fuel filter after the tank, should there also be a strainer in the tank?

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

There may be a check valve with a screen around it if it is like earlier carts. In the tank on the pickup hose.

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

The parts manual shows your model does have the fuel strainer/check valve. I can't say someone hasn't taken it out though. It's in the gas tank at the end of the fuel line. If you see only the end of the fuel line, then its not there. If there is something on the end of the line, then there it is. It isn't located anywhere else unless someone has added an inline check valve and shouldn't be in any fuel filter that I know of.

Re: 1989 Par Car Fuel Issue
 

I believe I found it online, is this the one? https://www.golfcarcatalog.com/produ...6-Screen-.html

Should I purchase one or is this not necessary?