Lift the golf cart seat upwards until the batteries are exposed. Turn on the voltmeter and set the reading to 20 volts. Connect the red lead of the voltmeter to one of the positive posts of a battery. Similarly, connect the black lead of the voltmeter to the negative post of this battery. Check the voltage reading on the voltmeter.
Full Answer
How can I tell if my alternator is bad?
“With the car running, you can turn on all the heavy loads; turn on the heater blower motor, turn the lights on, etc.,” he tells us. “Then check the voltage at the battery terminals. That’ll give you a general idea of the health of the alternator.”
How to check a golf cart battery voltage?
Connect the voltmeter to the battery and get the golf cart running. You can consider applying the hand brake to prevent rolling. Check if the voltage rating is between 14 volts and 16 volts. If it’s less than this range, remove the wire above the starter generator after stopping the cart.
How to fix a faulty voltage regulator on a golf cart?
Use a jumper and connect it from the ground of the cart to the stud of the starter generator. If the voltage is 15VDC or more, then the voltage regulator is faulty. Remove the drive belt from the golf cart. You can also consider turning off the engine of the cart so that there is no movement.
What does it mean when your alternator is not working properly?
If it does, that means the alternator is still producing sufficient voltage to at least keep the engine firing, according to Hines. If it doesn’t, that means the alternator isn’t producing enough voltage.
How do you check a golf cart alternator?
0:011:03How to Check the Generator on Your Golf Cart - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you should see the voltage jump up from around 12 volts with the cart running to about 16 voltsMoreAnd you should see the voltage jump up from around 12 volts with the cart running to about 16 volts that that happens that proves the generator is fine you simply need to change.
How do you know if voltage regulator is bad on golf cart?
How to Check If the Voltage Regulator Is FaultyMajor electrical components such as the dashboard or lights will start fluctuating or dimming. ... The battery becomes drained, even though no electrical component was left on. ... The engine will start experiencing problems such as stalling or a lack of constant acceleration.More items...
What causes a golf cart to not charge?
If your batteries aren't hooked up correctly, or the connections between them are weak or frayed, this can quickly lead to a loss of power and cause your charger to fail. Make sure you check each battery terminal for corrosion; any buildup will impede the flow of electricity, and could likewise cause problems.
What keeps the battery charged on a gas golf cart?
A golf cart starter primarily serves two functions; turning over the engine to start the cart and act as a key link in getting the battery charged. The starter has enough current to crank the engine. The generator converts the alternating current to direct current and recharges the battery.
How do I know if my alternator or voltage regulator is bad?
Do You Have a Bad Voltage Regulator?High voltage output.Low voltage output, sometimes.No voltage output.Lights dim or flicker.Faulty high-beam headlamp bulbs.Engine working erratically (weak or flickering ignition system)Adding water to the battery frequently.Growing corrosion around battery terminals and top.More items...•
What are the symptoms of a failing voltage regulator?
Bad Voltage Regulator SymptomsToo High Voltage in the Battery.Dead Battery.Battery Light or Check Engine Light.Inconsistent Operation of Electrical Components.Vehicle Dies While Running.Dimming/Pulsing Lights.
How do you trick a golf cart charger to charge a dead battery?
1:233:46Reviving Dead 6v & 8v Golf Cart Batteries FAQ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what I'm going to do is I'm going to hook my positive to the battery one positive. And since thisMoreSo what I'm going to do is I'm going to hook my positive to the battery one positive. And since this is this negative we make this battery six volt I jump to the corresponding.
Where is the reset button on a Club Car golf cart?
It should have a small reset button (Usually it will be red) located near the main battery supply. Hit the reset button and then put the cover back on the motor. The next step would be to recharge your cart and try turning it on again.
How do you reset a golf cart charger?
Easily Reset the Club Car Golf Cart OBCKey switch to off.Set forward/reverse to neutral.Put tow/run switch to tow.Disconnect the negative battery terminal from the battery pack.Put the tow/run switch to run.Put forward/reverse switch to reverse.Put key switch to on.More items...
Do golf carts have alternators?
However, the difference is that a battery for a golf cart is usually of 6, 8, or 12 volt deep-cycle lead acid battery, whereas a normal vehicle uses a 12-volt starter or ignition battery. Moreover, the battery for a cart does not recharge itself as the vehicle runs like batteries in cars do (cars have alternators).
How do you test a golf cart charging system?
Turn on the Charger – Once you have the voltmeter attached to your battery charger, turn on the charger to read the electrical output. Typically, the needle on the voltmeter will move from left to right – with right being higher – to gauge the amps produced. A reading of about 36 amps is typical for a battery charger.
How do you check a golf cart charging system?
1:103:54Golf Cart Charger Troubleshooting Guide | ASK DAVE | Golf Cart GarageYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTest good first off the most common issue when a charger doesn't engage is dead batteries golf cartMoreTest good first off the most common issue when a charger doesn't engage is dead batteries golf cart chargers start automatically by receiving voltage from your cart.
What does it mean when an alternator doesn't work?
If it does, that means the alternator is still producing sufficient voltage to at least keep the engine firing, according to Hines. If it doesn’t, that means the alternator isn’t producing enough voltage.
Where is the alternator located?
Your alternator is arguably one of the most important parts of your engine. Usually found attached to the front of the block, it’s responsible for keeping your battery charged as you drive down the road. Without it, your battery would quickly run out of juice, leaving you stranded.
How to check battery voltage?
Simply check the voltage of your battery by touching the multimeter prongs to the terminals with the car shut off. Take note of that number; it should be somewhere in the 12-to-13-volt range, according to Hines. Then, start the car and check the voltage at the battery again while the vehicle is running.
How much does a load tester cost?
Proper load testers, normally found at professional shops and dealerships, cost around $2000 on the low end, not exactly cheap enough for the average DIYer. But there are still a few low-budget methods you can try to give you a good idea of the health of your alternator.
How to tell if your golf cart is low voltage?
You may notice the range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf. A “Shutter” is when the cart feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake in a rapid staccato. This is a classic sign of low voltage.
How to tell if your golf cart battery is bad?
Symptoms of a failing battery or batteries could include the following: 1 You may notice the range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf. 2 A “Shutter” is when the cart feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake in a rapid staccato. This is a classic sign of low voltage. If this is experienced, your cart may be low on charge, the charger may not be functioning properly or you may have a battery issue. 3 On electric golf carts, the cart refusing to move at all on a charged set of batteries could be the controller not engaging when the voltage falls below a preset value. 4 It takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had them installed. As the batteries age, they will not hold a charge as well as they used to. The charger has no way to know this and will continue to charge the batteries trying to get to a full charge – meaning it will take longer to charge the batteries than normal.
How to tell if battery life is nearing?
Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer several times to allow the thermometer to adjust to the temperature of electrolyte and note the reading. Observe also the electrolyte color. A gray or brown coloration shows that the end of your battery life is nearing.
What is a golf cart battery charger?
The battery charger is designed to bring a normally discharged battery back to full or nearly full charge in a given time.
What temperature should a battery be when charging?
This will also initiate the equalizing charge. The batteries should begin gassing and bubbling. Keep the battery temperature between 115 degrees and 125 degrees.
How many amps does a golf cart battery take to recharge?
To recharge, the batteries will require 90 ampere-hours + 20% to make up for any charge deficiency.
What to wear when driving a golf cart?
Long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and protective eyewear are a must. I would even have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case. There are different types of batteries used in newer style golf carts (Absorbed Glass Mat, Lithium, Gel) that require different testing procedures.
How to test a golf cart starter?
Here are general instructions on how to bench test your golf cart starter generator: 1) Put your starter generator in a vice or make someone hold it carefully. 2) Attach a 10-gauge jumper wire from F1 to A2. 3) Attach the black (-) battery cable to the negative bettery terminal.
How to check if a generator is working?
1) Remove the yellow wire from the generator. 2) Then , using a piece of 14 ga wire with the appropriate eyelet, connect to the terminal. 3) Touch the battery with the wire while it’s running. 4) Check the voltage using a multimeter. 5) The generator is working if you pick up any voltage.
What are the terminals on a 5 terminal starter generator?
The terminals on a five terminal starter generator are: 1) A1 and A2. They’re the armature terminals which are connected internally through the brushes to the armature. 2) D1 and D2.
How to test Yamaha G1 starter?
To test your Yamaha G1 starter generator: 1) Disconnect all the wires before you begin your tests. 2) Connect post F2 to the positive terminal of your cart battery and A1 to the negative terminal of your cart battery.
Can you breathe in black dust when changing your starter?
Warning: Avoid breathing in the black dust released when changing your brushes; the black dust is horrible for your lungs. Tip: Use a face mask when changing the brushes in your starter generator. If you need some high quality parts for your generator, visit Golf Cart King.
What happens when a starter generator spins?
That completes the circuit, so the Starter/Generator begins to spin. As it spins, a voltage appears at the DF terminal of the Starter/Generator, which is connected to the Voltage Regulator.
How many volts should a jumper have before it is shorted?
Before the jumper is shorted to ground, the voltage at B+ should, of course, reflect the charge state of the battery (around 12 volts), but when the jumper is touched to ground (which is what the Voltage Regulator does in instantaneous bursts), the voltage at B+ should rise as the motor’s speed is increased.
How many volts should a starter generator output?
It should peak at about 15 volts (the maximum output of the Starter/Generator’s charge ability). If it does increase, then the Starter/Generator is alright. If it doesn’t, there is a problem with the Starter/Generator.
