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. Battery vs. Charger
Full Answer
Why do golf cart batteries fail?
The never ending war on corrosion. 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.
What can go wrong with an electric golf cart?
There are quite a few common things that can go wrong with an electric golf cart. These common issues include rapidly depleted batteries, worn machinery behind ignition, damaged ignition switch, blocked motor just to name a few. Read on to find out the twenty most common things that can go wrong with your electric golf cart.
Can You charge a golf cart battery with a car charger?
Even if you are able to drive your golf cart and even if you just got brand new batteries, we'd suggest getting a 6V OR 12V CAR BATTERY CHARGER AND MANUALLY CHARGING UP THE GOLF CART BATTERIES FOR A COUPLE MINUTES EACH. This process should give the batteries enough voltage so that your golf cart battery charger can then take over.
What will happen if you hook a battery charger up backwards?
The battery terminals and cables are typically labeled or color-coded, making it simple to match the connections. When the cables are connected backward, sparks fly, and the heat created may melt the cable insulation. Remove the cables immediately to prevent further damage.
How do you reset an electric golf cart?
Identify your main battery supply (usually the largest battery) on your motor. Check around this supply for a small red button that may or may not be labeled “Reset”. Press and hold this button for a few moments and then release it to reset the motor.
What causes a golf cart not to start?
As the main source of power to your electric golf cart, the batteries are commonly the cause for why your electric golf cart won't start. Acid-based batteries are typically used for electric golf carts and must be recharged in order to work properly.
Why did my electric golf cart stop working?
If you're lucky, the problem could be as simple as a loose wire or a broken coil. In some cases, corrosion can also be a factor. If you suspect a faulty solenoid, your best bet is to take your cart to a repair shop. A mechanic can diagnose the problem and replace the solenoid if necessary.
Where is the reset button on golf cart motor?
First, you'll want to reset your motor. 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. If it starts up then you're in luck!
Do electric golf carts have fuses?
Yes, golf carts contain fuses just like those found in a car or truck.
How do I know if my electric golf cart solenoid is bad?
Press on the accelerator while the key is turned on and the cart is in forward.The solenoid needs to be replaced IF the voltmeter shows a full battery voltage without a click.If your voltmeter stays at 0, the problem stems from somewhere else in your cart.
How do you troubleshoot an electric golf cart motor?
There are a few simple problems that you can fix yourself that will not necessitate professional maintenance.Test the wall socket where you charge your cart. ... Expose your golf cart batteries. ... Test the batteries for voltage. ... Replace dead batteries. ... Expose the motor for inspection. ... Reset the motor. ... Test the cart.
What do you do if your golf cart won't charge?
1:103:54Golf Cart Charger Troubleshooting Guide | ASK DAVE | Golf Cart GarageYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo moisture dust power surge these can all do damage. This style charger can be opened and repairedMoreSo moisture dust power surge these can all do damage. This style charger can be opened and repaired if a single component has failed or been damaged.
How do you know when your golf cart batteries need to be replaced?
Here are 4 signs you need to replace your golf cart batteries: It takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had them installed. ... Your Golf Cart loses power very quickly. ... Your Golf Cart does not accelerate as fast as it used to. ... The batteries are leaking acid and are beginning to bulge.
How do you test an electric golf cart?
4:0210:28Testing 36 volt golf cart motor with 12 volt battery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to take the negative. And put it on the a1. Again i'm going to take the jumper cableMoreYou're going to take the negative. And put it on the a1. Again i'm going to take the jumper cable from a2 to s1 you're going to take the positive cable from the jumper.
How do I reset my Club Car electric motor?
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...
Where is the reset button on an ezgo golf cart?
Locate the motor Remove the panel so the electric motor is visible. Electric motors usually include reset buttons that can perform similar to circuit breakers. Look in the area where several electrical wires enter the motor and locate a small red button. This is the reset button.
Where is the reset switch on a ezgo 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.
How do you troubleshoot an electric golf cart?
There are a few simple problems that you can fix yourself that will not necessitate professional maintenance.Test the wall socket where you charge your cart. ... Expose your golf cart batteries. ... Test the batteries for voltage. ... Replace dead batteries. ... Expose the motor for inspection. ... Reset the motor. ... Test the cart.
Find A New Golf Cart Battery Charger Or Batteries
1. All Golf Cart Chargers 2. Club Car Chargers 3. EZGO Chargers 4. Yamaha Chargers 5. Buyer's Guide - Picking the Best Golf Cart Charger. 6. Golf C...
Troubleshoot An Old Golf Cart Battery Charger & Batteries
1. Why is my golf cart battery charger not working? 2. I manually charged my batteries, that did not work, now what? 3. Do I have a battery or a ch...
Golf Cart Charger Questions
1. How do I choose a replacement charger for my Powerdrive, Powerwise, etc.? 2. What's the difference between the Links & Summit charger? 3. How lo...
Golf Cart Battery Questions
1. Do I have 6v, 8v or 12v golf cart batteries? 2. Do I have a 36 volt or 48 volt golf cart? 3. How long do golf cart batteries last? 4. How can I...
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.
Golf Cart General Introduction
The popular definition for a golf cart is that it is a small vehicle designed to carry two or more golfers and their equipment around the golf course or desert pathways to avoid walking effort.
Electric Golf Carts
The two main types of golf carts driven at the golf courses are gasoline and electric golf carts. Both of them function on the principle of a regular, less powerful gasoline or electric car, with some insignificant differences. Electric golf cars are popular with their environmentally friendly mode of operation.
Common Things That Can Go Wrong With An Electric Golf Cart
Buying and driving an electric golf cart, you should be aware that, just like other cars, it has a lifespan, and its parts also wear out. Some golfers perceive their carts as small, funny vehicles that can drive them around the golf course forever.
How To Avoid Or Mitigate The Issues
The key to avoiding or mitigating possible electrical golf carts malfunctioning is, as already mentioned a few times above, proper and regular maintenance. Golf cart owners should perceive their small electric vehicles as regular cars with a more restricted use range.
The Elite Of The Electrical Golf Carts
Pointing out so many common issues with the electrical golf carts may leave you with the wrong impression that they are pretty problematic vehicles. Let’s clarify that technical issues are typical for the used carts but are quite unusual for new carts with a warranty.
Electric Golf Carts FAQ
To determine whether your electric golf cart motor is bad or not, you need to test it first. Sometimes the problem is easy to detect, but sometimes you need to check the entire electrical system.
Sources
Wikipedia, “Golf Cart.” Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_cart Assessed June 8, 2021
What is the controller on a golf cart?
The controller is responsible for controlling the speed of the golf cart and also handles all the information being transferred from the ignition switch to the batteries to the motor. Some refer to the controller as the brain of the golf cart. The most common issue that occurs in the controller is that it might become damaged because ...
Why does my golf cart stop working?
It is one of the essential parts of the golf cart. It will let you know that you have started the car because of the clicking sound that it makes when you engage the accelerator pedal or turn the key switch on. However, it often stops working because of the following reasons: Corrosion. Loose Wires.
Why won't my golf cart start?
It is one of the essential parts of the golf cart. It will let you know that you have started the car because of the clicking sound that it makes when you engage the accelerator pedal or turn the key switch on. However, it often stops working because of the following reasons: 1 Corrosion 2 Loose Wires 3 Broken Internal Coil
What happens if you use a golf car for a long time?
The wear and tear of the machinery behind the ignition. Extensive usage will eventually damage the ignition switch and can lead to improper usage. There also might be an issue with the wiring of the ignition switch. It is important that you inspect potential ...
Why do people use golf carts?
Individuals use golf carts for a wide variety of reasons. It originally started as a means to relieve the burden of carrying golf clubs on the course and has now evolved into a means of transportation.
What is a direction switch on a golf cart?
Direction Switch. There are special direction switches in the golf cart. It helps the person to move the car in a forward or reverse direction. However, with the extensive usage of the vehicle, the switch can become damaged and eventually breakdown.
Can you check the performance of a golf cart?
Bottom line. As now you are aware of the issues that might occur in your golf cart, make sure that you always get preventative maintenance. Also, with a few techniques, you can easily check the performance and machinery of your vehicle with visible inspection of parts and components yourself.
How Do I Troubleshoot My Golf Cart Battery Charger if It Isn't Working?
Just so you know, this situation happens EVERYDAY. The first question we always ask is, how long has it been since you've charged your batteries? We ask this because often times if it has been a while (a couple weeks or more), or if you just got brand new batteries, or if your batteries have been really run down recently, it is possible that the batteries may not have enough voltage in them for the charger to start working. An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.
What are some symptoms of a bad golf cart battery charger vs. bad batteries?
Bad Batteries: IN GENERAL, if the charger doesn't kick on or show any signs of life when you plug it into your cart, this is most likely a battery/connection issue. Learn more about the signs of a bad golf cart battery.
Can I leave my golf cart battery charger plugged in to my cart for extended periods of time without my batteries dying?
Yes, because our new Lester Battery Chargers have a winter storage mode feature that automatically regulates the batteries' charge. With a Lester charger you do not need to call a neighbor to unplug and re-plug your charger to kick on, it does it automatically and only when needed. This is a new and unique feature on Lester chargers that is not available on other chargers, like the Powerwise or Powerdrive chargers.
Will the golf cart charger automatically stop charging once the batteries are fully charged?
Yes. All automatic chargers are designed to charge your batteries until they are fully charged and then stop charging. So you do not need to manually shut off the charger or worry about overcharging your batteries. All Lester chargers are made with a number of internal safety mechanisms that ensure that they will never overcharge batteries.
What if I charge my batteries until my battery charger stops charging, but my golf cart won’t drive very far?
You probably need to test your batteries and likely will need to get new golf cart batteries.
How long does it take to charge a golf cart?
It depends on three factors, 1) the quality of your batteries, 2) how discharged your batteries are and 3) the quality of your charger. If you have 5 year old batteries that are very discharged and you have a lightweight 2-5 amp charger, it may take a very long time (10 hours or more). If you have brand new batteries, they are 20-30% discharged and you've got a heavy-duty charger, it can be pretty quick (1-3 hours). Again, it depends on all of the above factors, so it really could vary quite a bit.
Should I charge the golf cart after each use?
Yes. It is healthy for the batteries to be fully charged at all times. So, you should charge your golf cart every night. Automatic golf cart chargers will shut off once the batteries are fully charged, so there isn't a concern that they will be over charged.
Why won't my electric golf cart start?
Today, we'll look at the most common problems with electric golf carts, and how you can prevent or repair them. 1. Batteries That Break Down or Lose Charge. If your golf cart won't start, the first thing we suggest it checking your battery! Electric golf cart batteries need to be charged and have water added regularly.
Why is my golf cart ignition not working?
If your ignition has problems, it's almost certainly due to wear and tear or the age of your golf cart. Wires can become loose and lose the connection between the switch and the battery, or they may require replacement when they wear out or break over time.
Why does my golf cart stop clicking?
If you stop hearing that clicking sound and your golf cart no longer starts up , it's likely the solenoids are to blame. The problem may be as simple as loose wires, or you may be looking at a broken coil or corrosion. If solenoids are the issue, you'll want to bring your golf cart in for repairs.
What is the solenoid on a golf cart?
The solenoid is a cylindrical coil of wire that works as the magnet carrying an electric current. Basically, when you start up your golf cart, the solenoid is the reason for the clicking sound you hear when engaging the acceleration pedal. This sound is a good thing!
What is a direction switch on a golf cart?
Direction Switch. The direction switch simply lets you control whether your golf cart is in forward or reverse. One of the most frequently used parts on a golf cart, it's heavily prone to wear and tear and breaking down over time.
Is an electric golf cart good for the environment?
If you're the type to keep the environment in mind or you're interested in saving on fuel costs, an electric golf cart may be the solution to your golf cart needs!
Can electric golf carts be kept in winter?
However, electric golf carts do have their share of unique concerns and potential issues that you'll want to keep an eye out for. Most of these problems can be prevented with regular tune-ups and following our storage guidelines during the winter.
Should golf cart batteries be charged?
Another common issue is golf cart owners who think that golf cart batteries should only be charged when they've become very low. If you drive your golf cart that day? Charge the battery. Letting golf cart batteries run down until near-empty or totally dead will damage them over time just as much as overcharging them.
Can you use a bad boy golf cart for long distances?
Many of our great E-Z-Go, Cushman, and Bad Boy options are designed for longer-distance use, but even they have their limits. Forcing your golf cart up very steep hills or to go longer distances than it is made for will run the battery down and could leave you stranded. Just keep a careful eye on distance traveled and consider using a truck or trailer when transporting your golf cart longer distances.
Can you use an automatic battery charger when it is fully charged?
It's important to make sure you're using an automatic battery charger that will stop being active as soon as the battery is fully charged. We've had clients come in with what they felt were "bad" batteries, only to have to explain to them that the battery had simply been damaged by being overcharged too many times.
Can you turn off the radio on a golf cart?
Any lights, radio, or electric components in your cart should always be turned off when you stop using it. Leaving the radio or lights running on an idle golf cart can run down the battery incredibly quickly. In the case of a gasoline-powered golf cart, you may end up having to jump-start the cart to get it working again if this happens.
What are the problems with electric golf carts?
These carts can start to show signs of wear and may fail just like any other vehicle over time. Learn about some of the more common issues associated with electric golf carts. 1. Solenoid Wear. The solenoid is the primary electrical switch in your golf cart and is designed to ensure the current from the battery flows into the motor. ...
What is the controller on a golf cart?
An electric golf carts' controller is known as the heart of the operation and closely resembles and operates much like the motherboard in a computer. So a problem with the controller will have rippling effects throughout the cart. A common function of the speed controller is to control the speed of the golf cart.
Why does my gas cart not work?
When you press down on the gas pedal and hear a tapping-like sound, this is the sound of the solenoid activating. When there is a disruption in the flow of the electrical current , your cart will not operate. A common reason for current disruption is solenoid wear.
Why do electric golf carts fail?
These carts can start to show signs of wear and may fail just like any other vehicle over time.
Why does my gas pedal have a current disruption?
A common reason for current disruption is solenoid wear. Each time the solenoid activates as you press down on the gas pedal, the solenoid compounds down onto a thin metal contact plate. Over time, the force of this pressure creates tiny electric arcs on the plates' surface. These arcs eventually create a resistance that prevents the current from properly flowing.
What happens if your cart doesn't move?
If the cart doesn't move in either direction, both switches have failed. Diagnosing a problem with the direction switches isn't a complicated matter, but repairing the switch is more complex, especially if the switches are built into the speed controller.
Why won't my sped controller accelerate?
Problems with the sped controller occur for a variety of reasons, but most often the cause is degradation due to age or lack of use.