11 Causes of Generac Pressure Washer Not Turning On

If your pressure washer won’t start, check for obstructions to the flow of air, fuel, and spark to determine the cause of the problem.

Possible causes include a clogged air filter, old fuel, a faulty starting recoil, a sheared flywheel key, dirty carburetor, or low oil pressure.

If your Generac pressure washer won’t start, there are a few more things you may check below.

Please observe all safety precautions as outlined in the owner’s manual while performing maintenance. Before making any repairs, the spark plug wire must always be disconnected.

Causes of Difficulty Starting Your Generac Pressure Washer

Empty Generac Pressure Washer Gas Tank

If you’ve already gone on to other parts of the pressure washer, you might want to go back and check the fuel supply in the tank.

It’s possible you can’t remember the last time you refilled the gas tank. There’s a chance your fuel gauge is broken or you’ve acquired a fuel leak.

This is such a no-brainer, but it’s easy to overlook in the heat of frustration, so I thought I’d point it out as a possible source of your starting issues.

SOLUTION: Refuel the vehicle with new gasoline.

Generac Pressure Washer Issues Caused by Old or Corrupt Fuel

It doesn’t take long for gas to start decomposing. In order to avoid the unfavorable effects of ethanol on the fuel system, gas should be used within 30 days of purchase.

Most modern gasoline contains ethanol, which is a known moisture magnet for the fueling infrastructure. Ethanol and water form a varnish that, as it dries, can limit fuel flow and damage components.

Water in the fuel system is harmful to the fuel system and the engine, in addition to leaving deposits.

The following should be kept in mind when acquiring, storing, and using fuel for a Generac pressure washer in order to avoid the negative effects that ethanol has on the device:

• Get yourself some new gas with at least an 87 octane rating (91 RON).
• Never put in gas that has more than 10% ethanol in it. Gasoline without ethanol is preferable.
• Use all gasoline and diesel within 30 days.
• If you won’t be using the fuel within 30 days, a fuel stabilizer can keep it usable for a little longer. (New gasoline requires fuel stabilizer.)
• The damage done by stale fuel won’t be undone by this.
• Keep gasoline in a certified fuel container, far from anything that could catch fire.

If you discover stale gas in your Generac power washer, the solution is to drain the tank with a fuel siphon pump. You can cleanse the fuel system, lower the moisture content, and stabilize the gas by adding a fuel additive to fresh gas.

Fill up the gas tank. After getting the pressure washer going, let it run for 15 minutes to let the gas and stabilizer mixture circulate through the engine.

Sea Foam Motor Treatment is an excellent product that I highly recommend. Every time I fill up my gas tank, I use this product to mitigate the potential problems caused by ethanol. STA-BIL is an other viable choice.

Generac Pressure Washer With A Filthy Carburetor

To control the ratio of gas to air before it is ignited to start the pressure washer, your Generac employs a carburetor.

A dirty carburetor, gummed up with old fuel, prevents the components from working as intended. Your Generac pressure washer may not start if the carburetor won’t let in enough gas.

First, you should make sure fuel is getting to the carburetor, and then you can examine it. It’s a common piece that often gets crusty layers of old gas after it’s been used.

ANSWER: Take off the carburetor and clean it with special carburetor cleaning to get rid of the varnish and deposits that have built up inside.

Check the float, float needle, and fuel jets in the carburetor to ensure they are clean and in good working order.

A carburetor rebuild kit or a new carburetor will need to be purchased if any broken components are discovered.

Generac Pressure Washer with Clogged Air Filter

To prevent dust and other particles from entering through the air intake, an air filter has been set up. This will keep the engine clean and prevent even the tiniest amount of dirt from causing damage.

Any time you use a pressure washer, you should have an air filter running alongside it, and you should clean and inspect that filter several times a year to make sure it is in good working order. The engine warranty on your pressure washer could be voided if you ran it without an air filter.

Most homeowners should clean or replace their air filter several times a year in addition to replacing it once a year.

When the filter becomes too clogged with debris or has been damaged, it must be replaced. Using the pressure washer in dry, dusty circumstances will significantly increase the frequency with which it must be replaced.

Filters can become so clogged with dirt that air can’t get to the engine if they aren’t cleaned and replaced periodically. Overheating is a leading cause of irreparable engine damage.

If you discover that your air filter is clogged, you can clean it by following the steps outlined below.

Since the filter utilized varies by engine manufacturer and model, it is best to refer to the owner’s manual for information on the specific filter you have and how to clean it.

Purge the foam-style air filter from a Generac pressure washer:

• Take out the filter and throw it away.
• It’s important to clean the air filter housing and cover to ensure that it works properly. Ensure that the air intake is kept clean.
• Check for wear and tear on the foam filter, and replace if necessary.
• Cleaning the filter with soapy water and rinsing it until the water runs clear will determine its condition.
• The filter must be squeezed and then let to dry.
• Apply clean engine oil to the filter until it is completely saturated, but not dripping. Remove any extra oil from the filter by squeezing it. (If your air filter is made of paper, don’t oil the foam pre-cleaner).
• Place the air filter in its place.
• You need replace the air filter cover.

Cleanse a Generac pressure washer paper air filter:

• Take out the filter and throw it away.
  
• Take out the pre-cleaning foam.
  
• It’s important to clean the air filter housing and cover to ensure that it works properly. Ensure that the air intake is kept clean.
  
• Check the condition of the paper filter. The dirt can be loosened and released from the filter by tapping it. You should get a new filter if the old one has become too unclean, torn, or worn to properly seal the air intake.
  
• You can use a solution of mild detergent and water to clean the foam pre-filter. To get rid of grime and leftover soap, you should rinse.
• Squeeze out the excess water and hang to dry.
  
• Put in the foam pre-cleaner and paper filter.
  
• You need replace the air filter cover.

Generac Pressure Washer’s Faulty Spark Plug

If the tip of the spark plug is dusty, if the porcelain is fractured, or if the electrode is scorched, the plug may not be working properly. As a result, your pressure washer will not start up.

The deposits on the spark plug’s tip can be removed by cleaning the plug. Replacement of the spark plug is required if the tip turns a very dark color or is broken.

Proper gapping of the spark plug is essential, and may be found in the user manual.

An improperly gapped spark plug or a disconnected spark plug wire can prevent the engine from starting.

Failure of Ignition Coil in Generac Pressure Washer

Ensure your spark plug is in good working order before you start worrying about your ignition coil. The engine cannot be started without the ignition coil sending voltage to the spark plug.

The engine will not turn over if the spark plug is unable to ignite because of a malfunctioning spark plug or ignition coil.

The problem can be solved by using an ohmmeter to test the ignition coil’s continuity. A broken continuity means the ignition coil needs to be replaced.

Generac Pressure Washer With Low Engine Oil Level

When the engine oil is too low, the pressure washer won’t turn on. The engine oil level sensor is standard on many Generac pressure washers.

As a precaution, it will shut the engine off if the oil level is too low.

SOLUTION: Set the pressure washer on a level surface, then check the oil level. Take off the oil fill cap and use a dry towel to remove the oil from the dipstick.

Please replace the dipstick into the oil fill tube but do not tighten the lid. Take it out and check the oil using the dipstick. Keep it in the middle of the dipstick’s range.

If it isn’t, add or drain some oil to get the engine to the proper level.

If you check the oil level and find it to be where it should be, but the low oil light continues to illuminate, the sensor may be broken. The pressure washer should be taken to a service center for maintenance.

Generac Pressure Washer With Incorrect Choke Setting

To adjust the amount of air that is permitted to mix with the gasoline before starting the engine, the choke can be opened and closed using the choke lever or knob, depending on your Generac model.

To start a cold engine, you must move the choke lever to the choke position. When the engine has warmed up, the throttle must be moved to the open position so that it can continue to draw air and remain running.

As a SOLUTION, always start a cold engine with the choke closed and a heated engine with the choke open.

Manual-Start Generac Pressure Washer Recoil Issue

Wear and tear on the starting recoil, or the breakage of its constituent pieces, makes it difficult or impossible to start the pressure washer.

Issues with starting can be caused by a number of things, including a broken pulley, springs, or clips, or an unstrung rope on the recoil.

Recoil strings need to be restrung as a solution in some cases. On sometimes, you may need to repair or replace components of your recoil. Recoil replacement costs should be estimated before individual pieces are replaced.

There may be a point where it’s cheaper to just get a new recoil assembly than to take the old one apart and fix the parts that are broken.

Generac Pressure Washer Flywheel Key Broken

Installing the flywheel key into the crankshaft allows the flywheel to be engaged. Incorrect spark-to-piston timing can result from this key becoming worn or sheared.

If this occurs, it may be impossible to start the vehicle’s engine.

As a SOLUTION, you may need to take apart the flywheel and check the state of the flywheel key. Keys that get sheared off need to be replaced.

For the sake of safety, I advise having a small engine mechanic take care of any repairs to your engine.

Generac Pressure Washer Engine Compressor Issues

You can feel a drop in pressure as you draw the starter recoil rope. To put it simply, a Generac pressure washer won’t function if its compression isn’t high enough.

The crankshaft seals, piston rings, or piston itself could all be to blame for this issue.

I recommend taking your chainsaw to a small engine technician, Generac service shop, or engine dealer so they can inspect it and make any necessary repairs.