A golf cart may jerk, shudder, or shake when the proper voltage is not reaching the speed controller or electric motor. Generally, this is caused by low battery voltage and/or a corroded battery terminal connection. Safety Notice
Full Answer
Why does my electric golf cart jerk?
As the Precedent is an electric golf cart, the cause for jerking can be directly related to the batteries or other electronic components. Following are the steps you should take to ensure efficient functioning.
Can You troubleshoot an electric golf cart on your own?
Before you spend a lot of time and money waiting on a repairman or taking your electric golf cart to the shop, take a few seconds to troubleshoot the cart on your own. There are a few simple problems that you can fix yourself that will not necessitate professional maintenance.
Why won’t my club car golf cart move?
A Club Car golf cart will not move if power from the battery pack is not reaching the motor. Faulty parts such as the solenoid, OBC and wiring can also cause a golf cart to not move. There are several reasons why your club car won’t move: Batteries; in a pack of 3 or 4 batteries even if one fails, the required power won’t reach the motor
Why does my club car jerk in forward and reverse?
Club Car models like V4L can experience jerks in forward and reverse due to the following major issues. Frequent interaction with the clutch while driving leads to its sticking and malfunctioning. During motor ignition, the clutch can stick up, and the cart starts jerking forward and reverse.
What causes a electric golf cart to jerk?
Jerking electric golf carts are probably more common than a jerking gas model. That's because most “jerking” concerns are caused by battery issues or a poor flow of electricity from the battery to the cart. Typically, you'll start to notice this problem when your cart needs to charge up.
Why does my electric golf cart jerk when accelerating?
One way to fix the jerky acceleration on a Club Car golf cart is to check if the battery charge is dropping and the battery is nearly dead under load. A load test will help you determine this. If recharging the batteries doesn't help, getting a new battery or new batteries fitted should work.
How long should batteries last in an electric golf cart?
That all being said, properly maintained battery packs in fleet carts tend to last about 4-6 years while private owners tend to get about 6-10 years out of their battery packs. Other major factors include the type of options on the cart that may increase the draw from the battery pack.
What makes a golf cart jump?
A gasoline golf cart will just need a temporary burst of electricity that helps the engine run, allowing the alternator to charge up the battery. However, an electric cart needs not only a jump but a consistent flow of electricity to charge the battery properly.
What does the MCOR do on a golf cart?
Club Cars use an MCOR throttle device. This translates your foot movement at the pedal into electric impulse that the motor controller reads. MCOR stands for "Motor Controller Output Regulator".
Should you charge a golf cart after every use?
Should you charge new golf cart batteries? Yes. New golf cart batteries should be charged every time they are used as this will extend their lifespan, help them retain their capacity for longer, and prevent discharge. It is vitally important to charge new golf cart batteries, even after their first use.
How do you know if your golf cart batteries are bad?
8 Signs You Need to Replace Your Golf Cart BatteriesCharge Times Are Out of Hand. Just like any rechargeable battery, the repeated cycles of draining and charging your battery can take a toll on it. ... No “Get Up and Go” ... You See Visual Signs. ... Driving Until They Die. ... People Are Always Running The Radio.
Why are my golf cart batteries dying so fast?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps losing charge or drains quickly, may be due to loose wires, corroded connectors or an insufficient amount of water in the battery. The battery connections may have become loose or the connectors are corroded.
How often should you charge an electric golf cart?
4) To keep your golf car batteries at maximum capacity, use golf cart batteries often. Always remember to do a refresh charge every 45 to 60 days, and even more frequently in hotter climates.
What makes a golf cart surge?
A golf cart can be surging due to insufficient fuel levels, damaged motor brushes or a vacuum leak. The brushes in the motor are damaged or worn out. The MCOR is malfunctioning or a mismatch between the motor and controller results in torque bumps.
How do you reset golf cart batteries?
How to Repair Golf Cart Batteries: A Simple GuideOpen the Battery Compartment. ... Clean Corrosion Off the Battery. ... Wash the Paintbrush and Dip Into Water. ... Inspect the Battery. ... Remove Plastic Caps. ... Charge the Battery. ... Check the Charge. ... Drain the Battery Acid.More items...
How do I know if my golf cart solenoid is bad?
If your golf cart fails to turn on when you turn the key on, this is the most obvious sign of solenoid failure. The solenoid clicks a little with the ignition system in regular operation; in most cases, a failing solenoid will not snap.
Why does my electric golf cart jerk?
1] Water-logging in some of the components of your electric golf cart can result in jerking. Sensors and micro switches installed near the vehicle’s floor mat can malfunction due to water interference, which causes jerks when you accelerate.
Why does my Club car golf cart jerk when accelerating?
The main reason why a Club car golf cart jerks when you accelerate it is due to a misaligned Inductive Throttle Sensor or dirty clutch.
Why does my car's clutch stick up?
Frequent interaction with the clutch while driving leads to its sticking and malfunctioning. During motor ignition, the clutch can stick up, and the cart starts jerking forward and reverse.
Why does my golf cart jerk?
A Club Car golf cart jerking from the front end of the golf cart occurs due to poor quality of tires. If the tires are worn out or loose, the golf car can start jerking.
What to do if your golf cart tires are uneven?
The beads in the tires can also discomfort while driving your golf cart. If your tires have uneven beads, start by deflating them until the air is halved.
Why does my club car jerk forward and reverse?
As Club Car produces electric golf carts, water-logging into the electrical components can cause malfunction of the vehicle and cause jerking in forward and reverse.
How much does a DS golf cart weigh?
The DS produces both battery and gas-powered golf carts. The electric DS weighs 498 pounds, whereas the Gas DS weighs 619 pounds. The speed ranges between 12-15 miles/hour for the gas model, whereas 12-19 miles/hour for the electric one. Jerks can occur in the DS Car for the following reasons.
Why won't my club car golf cart go forward?
If the power from the battery pack is not reaching the motor , then the Club Car golf cart won’t move forward or reverse.
Why Won’t My Club Car Move?
A Club Car golf cart will not move if power from the battery pack is not reaching the motor. Faulty parts such as the solenoid, OBC and wiring can also cause a golf cart to not move.
How to bypass OBC?
The way to bypass the OBC is to run the 10ga black negative wire from the charger receptacle to the negative battery post (designated controller B-).
What voltage should a 36V battery be?
You must check your battery pack thoroughly. A 36V battery must show 38.3V on a full charge, while e a 48V battery reading must be 50.3V. If you are not getting these readings, change your batteries.
How to check if a controller is corroded?
To check the controller, these are the steps: You will need a digital voltmeter (DVM) to check the 16-pin connector at the controller. Lift one wheel of the cart on a jack. The black probe from the DVM should be on the pack negative post.
What happens if you get uniform voltage across pins?
If you get uniform voltage across these pins then the controller is getting the correct power from the battery.
What happens if one of the batteries fails?
So, if one of the batteries were to fail then the movement in that direction will be curtailed. Checking individual batteries is very important to avoid such a situation. Controller: The design and functioning of the controller are similarly divided into forward and reverse movements of the golf cart.
What happens if your golf cart battery fails?
Obviously, for electric golf carts, the battery is what provides power to your motor. If your batteries start to quit on you, the golf cart won’t move, or will drastically decrease in range. With a gas motor, the battery is what starts the motor and keeps it running by providing electricity to the spark plugs. Without it, your motor won’t crank.
Why is my golf cart battery failing?
The most common thing that leads to early golf cart battery failure is corrosion. The problem goes deeper, too. It will ruin your cables, terminals, and even cause damage to battery trays and tie downs. Replacing a whole battery cable can be costly and difficult, so it’s best to avoid that problem.
How to clean corroded battery posts?
Undo the terminals from the battery posts and soak the corroded area in the cleaner or baking soda solution for about 5 or so minutes, then put on some gloves, grab your wire brush, and keep scrubbing until it’s all gone. Repeat as necessary, then rinse with a lot of water.
How to protect battery terminals from corrosion?
Connect the terminals back to the post and then use your coating solution somewhat liberally to protect the area from future corrosion. You can use any store bought battery protection product you like, or just petroleum jelly, dielectric grease, or even bearing grease. As long as it will stay there and keep the metals insulated from the atmosphere.
How to clean a battery with corrosion?
First, you’ll want to clean off all of the corrosion. You’ll need corrosion cleaner and a stiff wire brush. You can get any type of battery cleaner in a store to perform this job, or you can use hot water and baking soda in a pinch.
Why is my battery puddled?
If your battery gets dirty, muddy, grimy, or anything else, make sure to clean that off too. These things can cause extra resistance in your electrical system, putting an unnecessary drain on your battery and shortening its life.
How long do batteries last?
All joking aside, every battery is different, but most properly maintained batteries will last about 4 to 6 years depending on usage, charge cycle, and a bunch of uncontrollable variables. Lead acid batteries will require a lot of maintenance to do so, however.
What are the problems with electric golf carts?
Electric golf carts have two areas where problems usually occur, the batteries and the motor. Before you spend a lot of time and money waiting on a repairman or taking your electric golf cart to the shop, take a few seconds to troubleshoot the cart on your own.
How to charge a golf cart?
Step 1. Test the wall socket where you charge your cart. Every golf cart has a built-in charger that connects to a wall socket. Take your wall socket 120-volt tester and check the actual socket that you use to charge the cart itself. Plug in your 120-volt tester and make sure the actual wall socket is good. If there is no voltage reading, your ...
What to do if your socket is not reading voltage?
If there is no voltage reading, your socket is bad and either needs to be replaced or the circuit breaker needs to be reset. You can reset the circuit breaker by flipping all the switches in your breaker box. An electrician should replace the socket.
How to inspect a golf cart motor?
Located under a panel at the back of your golf cart will be the electric motor. The panel will be held in place by four or six screws. Use your screwdriver to remove these, turning them counterclockwise.
Where is the electric motor on a golf cart?
Located under a panel at the back of your golf cart will be the electric motor. The panel will be held in place by four or six screws. Use your screwdriver to remove these, turning them counterclockwise.
Where are the batteries in a car charger?
If you are getting power to the charger, it's time to check the batteries. Most batteries are located under the seat, which flips up for access. Grab a hold of the back of your seat and flip it up to expose the batteries. There will be a row of batteries. Each one of these need to be checked.
How to test a 12 volt battery?
So, with your flat-bladed screwdriver, insert it into the screw slot on a clamp and turn it counterclockwise. Do this to both clamps. Using your 12-volt battery tester, test the voltage of this battery by touching each side of it to one ...
Can a bad battery affect a cart?
Your batteries may have the proper voltage and may not hold a charge under load. Even one bad battery can affect the performance of your cart. You should also check the voltage drop while driving uphill. Get some alligator clip test leads and connect those between positive and negative connection your cart and your meter ...
Can a golf cart go uphill?
When golf cart gets just slightly below a full charge it will not go uphill. It will go on flat land. Battery voltage was a little low but batteries still tested good.