Posting for the general knowledge base:

The family CEO called me at work the other day to frantically report that the car was turning over but not starting and trying to run rough. Typically, since I did not experience it first-hand, I dismissed her description out-of-hand, even though she said it had happened a few times before.

BUT, the other day it happened to me. Still I persisted. After several tries, I finally got it to catch. Then it decided to run normally, the little minx.

I discovered that it was more likely to have this substandard performance when A) it was a cold morning (we have those in Wyoming - I'm looking at you, Florida), and B) I hadn't driven in a day or two.

My stab at diagnosis was the HPFP. I've already changed the thermostat, the fuel filter, spark plugs, and carbon-blasted the intake the ports, so I had ruled those things out. I figure you need four things to start the car, right? - air, fuel, ignition, and compression. So I was focusing on the fuel.

Since the HPFP is still under the extended warranty, I took it to the dealership, confident that they would agree with my diagnosis, and replace the pump free of charge. Oh, how pride goeth before the fall.

The diagnosis was the PCV valve. Naturally, it can only be replaced as part of the valve cover, or "cylinder head cover", as some snotty engineer named it. So, even though I could easily change this out myself, the actual part was so expensive, it actually made sense to <gasp> let the dealership perform the repair. Maybe $100 more, but, hey, a little help for the economy here, OK?

My point is to point at the valve cover PCV if your go-kart is showing the same symptoms. Constant turning over, acts like a normally aspirated engine flooding, then finally starts & runs normally.

Hope this is of some use to somebody.