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. 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.
Full Answer
What causes low voltage on a golf cart battery?
1 A Bad Diode on the Battery Indicator. The diode behind the battery indicator could beat fault causing a little current flow-back via the control circuit. 2 Weak Battery Voltage. One or more of your golf cart batteries are likely to have a low voltage. ... 3 Faulty Charger. ...
How do I check the voltage on my golf cart battery?
How to Determine Golf Cart Voltage (36V or 48V): 1) Lift up your golf cart seat to locate the battery compartment. 2) Count the number of holes on a battery. Usually 3, 4 or 6 holes.
Why is my electric golf cart not going as far?
Your electric golf cart isn’t going as far on a full charge anymore, or begins to “shutter”. This could indicate a problem with one or more of the batteries. How do you test the battery in a golf cart? You can easily run preliminary tests on your batteries using either a voltmeter or a hydrometer. Here we will discuss the procedures.
What happens when a golf cart battery quits?
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 would a battery show negative voltage?
If they are switched, there will be a negative voltage. If the poles of your voltmeter are correctly connected, there is a possibility that the battery suffered a phenomenon called “polarity reversal”. This is a rare phenomenon that can happen at the end of a discharge with 2 or more batteries in series.
How do I know if my electric golf cart motor is bad?
You have enough going on in your life without your golf car refusing to start when you turn the key in the ignition. If your golf car won't start, is slower than it used to be, or is experiencing other technical problems, you could have a bad motor on your hands.
How do you reset a golf cart electric 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 golf cart batteries go negative positive?
Golf cart battery banks are normally located beneath the seat of the cart. Remove the black negative cable from the first battery in the bank followed by the subsequent positive wire.
What are the symptoms of a bad solenoid in a golf cart?
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.
How do you test a golf cart electric motor?
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.
Do all electric golf cart motors have a reset button?
Electric golf cart motors have a reset button on their chassis which is designed to put your motor back into its original factory state. While it doesn't repair damage that may have occurred to the motor over the years, obviously, it does help to overturn any changes to the operation which may have occurred.
How do I reset my club car 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 a ezgo golf cart?
Look in the area where several electrical wires enter the motor and locate a small red button. This is the reset button.
How do you reset golf cart batteries?
Step 1: Tip the battery on its edge: Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. ... Step 2: Mix 8 ounces of Epsom salts into 2 quarts of warm distilled water: Stir thoroughly. ... Step 3: Put the battery or batteries on a charger.
What voltage should golf cart batteries read?
Healthy batteries will indicate about 50 to 52 volts on the voltmeter. Most battery packs hold around 48 volts. Keep in mind that the high number doesn't mean that the batteries are instantly good. This measured value doesn't take the load or cart's power consumption into consideration.
What would cause a golf cart not to 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 happens if a golf cart motor doesn't spin?
If everything else is working properly but the motor does not spin, it may be burnt out. You can burn out a motor by overloading the golf cart or using it on too steep a grade. If the motor is burnt out, it must be completely replaced.
How does a potentiometer work on a golf cart?
When it is working properly, the potentiometer allows your golf cart to accelerate smoothly. Find your potentiometer and inspect it for any cracks, broken parts, or disconnected wires.
How many ohms does a golf cart potentiometer have?
Most golf cart potentiometers are 5K – 0 ohms, which means the potentiometer relays 5,000 ohms when you floor the accelerator. Some older models use volts instead, so double check the resistance type before you try to test the output. There are two terminals on a potentiometer.
What happens if your solenoid is not working?
If your solenoid is working and the cart still isn’t going, there is one last part to check before you reset the entire motor. You may have never come across the potentiometer before, but it is an important part to keep your golf cart going. It sends an electrical signal to the speed controller from the accelerator pedal, indicating the pedal’s position.
What to do if your solenoid is high?
If you don’t hear a click when the cart is on and you’re pressing the accelerator, switch your multimeter to volts and place a contact on each of the small solenoid terminals. These small terminals connect to the batteries.
How to protect a golf cart battery?
Golf cart batteries are highly corrosive, so avoid spills at all times. Wear protective gloves when testing or cleaning your battery. It is also recommended to wear protective glasses when you are handling the battery, so corrosive liquid does not splash into your eyes.
What to do if your electric cart won't run?
Once you’ve pressed the button to reset the motor, reassemble the cart, charge up the batteries, and give it a test run. If you’ve reset the motor and the cart will still not run, there are a few things that could be wrong with your electric motor.
What is wrong with my electric golf cart?
Electric golf carts are usually trouble-free and do their job efficiently and with no fuss, but sometimes you suspect your golf cart is experiencing a problem. If the speed seems to be off, or your cart gives off a burning wire smell, your golf cart motor might have a problem. Using a multimeter, a jumper wire, and a 12-24 volt power source, ...
How to check if electric golf cart is running?
It sounds absurd, but if your electric golf cart is not running, the very first thing I would check is the reset button on the side of the motor, if your cart is so equipped. Check around the outside of the motor and see if you can find a small button to press. This is usually a safeguard against overheating.
Why is it important to test a motor before replacing a controller?
This is an important test to do on your motor before replacing the controller because a short could damage the new controller irreparably. Please note that this test will not find a short in the armature. Note that continuity testing is not directional, so it doesn’t matter if the red and black are reversed.
When did golf carts start having separate excited motors?
In 1999, some golf cart manufacturers started offering Separately Excited Motors. Sepex (Regenerative) Motor carts have a toggle switch F&R device as opposed to the lever-action. In addition to this identifier, they have a tow/run or tow/maintenance switch which cuts power to the controller. Most of the modern-day carts are equipped ...
What to do if battery is too low?
If your batteries are too low for the charger to detect and it will not switch on, you’ll need to individually charge the batteries with a standard 12-volt battery charger. Once the batteries are at the minimum that the charger needs to see, there should be no problem charging them normally.
What is a golf cart?
Golf carts are also known as golf cars. The term "cart", in its purest sense, refers to a vehicle that does not travel under its own power. Golf cars, however, are most commonly referred to as golf... link to Club Car DS Wiring Diagrams 1981 To 2002.
Why is my battery pack not connecting?
Corrosion is the number one cause of poor connectivity in battery packs. If any of the terminals are dirty or corroded, use a solution of baking soda and water with a brush and clean each one individually.
How Many Batteries Are In a Golf Cart?
An electric golf cart will have either 4, 6 or 8 golf cart batteries and will have either a 36 volt or 48 volt electrical drive system.
48 Volt Golf Cart Voltage Example (12V Batteries)
If you have additional questions about your batteries or charger, check out our Battery Charger Frequently Asked Questions page or learn about how amperage works in a golf cart.
How does amperage affect golf carts?
It determines how far you can travel before having to fill up the tank. Well, Amperage in a golf cart is like the gas tank in your car. It will determine how far you can travel on a single charge in an electric Golf Car. The more amperage in a battery pack, the further you can drive before having to charge. Click here to learn how ...
How many volts are in a golf cart battery?
Now that we understand the differences between Amperage and Voltage, we can begin to break this down so we can locate the differences between various battery packs. For standard golf carts, we will typically see a Six Eight Volt Battery System. This can be visually determined by locating six batteries with 8 cells per battery. A cell is distinguished by a battery cap that is used for watering the batteries. With batteries used in Golf Carts, each cell will represent 2 Volts. Let’s take a look at the 5 most common battery packs we see in the market:
What is the relationship between horsepower and MPG?
To get a better idea of what amperage is like in a car, let us discuss the relationship between Horsepower and MPG. Horsepower within a car determines the acceleration and power of your car . If there is no fuel in the car though, then the vehicle is not going to go anywhere. That is the importance of MPG and also how big your gas tank is in your ...
Why is it important to know the difference between golf cart batteries?
The reason understanding their differences is so important is due to the large expense of replacement batteries. By knowing their differences ahead of time, you will be able to decipher which battery pack is suitable for you when making your golf cart purchase.
Is voltage in a golf cart battery similar to horsepower?
Therefore, Voltage in a battery pack inside of an electric vehicle has to do with power. It does not have to do with fuel. Therefore, voltage in a battery pack within a golf cart will be comparable to the horsepower in a car.
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 Tell If Your Electric Golf Cart Motor Is Bad
Even the most well-maintained golf car will have technical problems eventually. Still, it’s rather unfortunate if the problem is with your motor or engine. You have enough going on in your life without your golf car refusing to start when you turn the key in the ignition.
Test Your Batteries
When your golf car doesn’t start, it’s tempting to jump straight to the perceived problem area: the motor. But the issue could be a simpler one concerning another part of the car. Before checking its other parts, test the voltage of your batteries to make sure they’re working.
Check the Solenoid
If your batteries are charged and in working condition, but your car still won’t start, check its solenoid. A solenoid is an electromagnetic coil of wire that transmits energy from your car’s battery to its motor to help it start. Every time you start your golf car, you should hear the click of the solenoid.
Examine the Potentiometer
If your car still won’t start or you notice any issues with acceleration, it’s time to check the potentiometer. The potentiometer sends an electric signal from the accelerator pedal to the speed controller, allowing the car to accelerate properly.
Check the Motor Itself
If you’ve checked all the above parts and none of them are responsible for your trouble, inspect the motor of the golf car itself. Sometimes, the issue can be resolved by simply resetting the motor. To reset your golf car’s motor, open the hood to expose your motor and look for the red reset button.
Do E-Z-Go Golf Carts have titles?
E-Z-Go Golf Carts, unlike vehicles, do not have a title, but they do have serial numbers. If you are buying a golf cart, it is essential to check the serial number to ensure you do not buy a stolen one. Each E-Z-Go Golf cart has a unique serial number that you can use to identify your golf cart.
Where is the E-Z-Go Cart Serial Number
As mentioned above, all E-Z-Go Golf carts have unique serial numbers. These numbers are essential when buying replacement parts for your golf cart. Textron Specialized Vehicles has been building golf carts for a long time, and the serial numbers are placed on different parts of the golf carts.
How do I push my E-Z-Go Golf Cart?
It can be frustrating when your battery is flat and your golf cart will not roll. To push it to the nearest charging or gas station, you need to release the motor brake. Follow these easy steps to do that.
Why does my E-Z-Go golf cart not move
There are several reasons why your cart refuses to move, but you should check the battery before anything else. If the battery is charged, here are some other reasons why your golf cart will not move.
Are all E-Z-Go Golf carts electric?
No, there are both electric and gas-powered E-Z-Go Golf carts available. Bear in mind that there are several models you can drive on the street, but those are all-electric. These electric models run on batteries that you have to charge at least every 24 hours, depending on how much you use them.
How to tell the Assembly year of my E-Z-Go golf cart
The placement of serial numbers is discussed above, and you will find the manufacturer’s number right next to it. The manufacturer’s number consists of one letter and 3 or 4 numbers. The last two numbers indicate the last two digits of the year of assembly.
How to service E-Z-Go Golf Cart
Like all vehicles, E-Z-Go golf carts require regular maintenance to enhance longevity and performance. You should ensure that your golf cart is serviced after every six months of use. That will ensure that you spot problems and repair them early, which will help reduce repair costs. Here are essential guidelines for E-Z-Go golf cart maintenance.
What happens if your golf cart battery is low?
Weak Battery Voltage. One or more of your golf cart batteries are likely to have a low voltage. This can stop the batteries from being able to pick up charge. Check the voltage of each battery separately. When you find a battery with a low charge, try charging it to its full voltage using a smaller auto charger.
What is the warning light on a golf cart?
The warning light on an electric golf cart is the battery light . True to its name, this light gets illuminated to warn you of a low battery or low batteries. It serves as a signal for you that it’s time for battery recharge.
What is a golf cart battery light?
A golf cart’s battery light is undoubtedly an indispensable accessory of any battery-operated golf cart. This light notifies you when your golf cart battery or batteries are low on charge. It saves you the hassle of worrying whether you would be stranded because of a drained battery.
Why does my golf cart light flash red?
The light, usually red, starts flashing when the battery has got less than 10 percent charge left, in an electric golf cart or less than 10 percent fuel in a gasoline-powered golf cart. The golf cart has several other warning lights. For example, there is a warning light to indicate if there is any problem with the engine of your cart.
Why is my battery light flashing?
One reason why your battery light is flashing could be because the batteries are not getting a full charge from the charger. The flashing indicates that the charging is less than 90 percent.
Why do my batteries flash?
A mistake in the installation of batteries can cause flash ing battery lights. This can be something like a wrong polarity connection. Analyze how your battery connections have been made. One or more batteries have likely been connected in the reverse order.
What does the motor controller sense?
The motor controller has sensed that the charger cable is plugged into the car receptacle. The battery pack does not have a high state of charge. A green battery with a white lightning symbol inside. The motor controller has sensed that the charger cable is plugged into the car receptacle.
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.
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.
How does a battery work?
Your battery works by having two metals, a cathode and anode, react to each other to create chemical energy that we harness as electrical energy. With wet cell lead-acid batteries, these metals are kept in a liquid electrolyte, a liquid solution comprised of pure water and hydrosulphuric acid mixed to a set specific gravity. Other types of batteries typically use a gel, mat, or solid electrolyte to perform the same function. For the purpose of this topic however, the only battery we’ll be discussing is the traditional lead-acid battery, as this is the only type of battery for which you will have to worry about electrolyte levels.
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.
What happens when hydrogen gas is released from a battery?
Look for corrosion often, and neutralize it immediately. It’s a long and never ending war, but your wallet will thank you. Corrosion happens when hydrogen gases, released from your battery, mix with other chemicals and gasses in the atmosphere, and then bond to the metals of cables, terminals, and battery posts.
What is the purpose of a gas motor battery?
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. Such a vital part as a battery demands that you keep an eye on it, maintain it, and know how to fix things when they go bad.
Can you test golf cart batteries individually?
You can either do this one at a time and test them individually, saving a reassembly headache, or remove them all at once and save a little time if you’re sure on how to reassemble the pack. Either way, you want each battery completely separated from the golf cart.
Check The Batteries
Inspect The Charger and Test The Wall Socket
- After you’ve verified your battery is in working order, it’s time to move on to the charging process. First, inspect all of the wires in your charger. If there are any loose connections or corrosion, this may be the issue. Clean it up and repair any damaged connections. If your charging cord is often tightly coiled or bent, it is possible that a wi...
Listen For The Solenoid
- With the batteries and charging checked off of your list, the solenoid should be your next point of interest. The solenoid allows electricity to flow from your batteries to the electric motor. It usually makes a clicking noise when you turn the key to the “on” position. It is engaged each time you turn on the cart and every time you step on the accelerator or the brake, so it is a part that can wear o…
Examine The Potentiometer
- If your solenoid is working and the cart still isn’t going, there is one last part to check before you reset the entire motor. You may have never come across the potentiometer before, but it is an important part to keep your golf cart going. It sends an electrical signal to the speed controller from the accelerator pedal, indicating the pedal’s position. When it is working properly, the poten…
Reset The Motor
- Just like many other electronics, an electric golf cart motor sometimes just needs to be restarted to clear the cobwebs. If you’ve checked and double-checked all of the parts mentioned above, and the cart still isn’t moving, you’ll want to reset the motor. t’s simple to do – just a press of a button. The reset button acts as a mini circuit breaker for the motor, so it will correct any minor errors. E…
Precautions
- Before you begin diagnosing your electric golf cart, there are a couple safety precautions to keep in mind. Always have the manual handy to help you find and identify the parts you want to test. When testing the batteries on a wall socket, make sure you know how to properly use your multimeter. If it is an adjustable meter, make sure it is set to the correct measurement type and t…
Conclusion
- By locating a problem yourself, you can save some money on an expensive repairman’s time. Keep a few simple tools stored on your golf cart so you can test and make repairs anywhere. If a part breaks, and you have a little extra time and an internet connection, you can save even more by replacing the part yourself. Find a reputable dealer online that carries the parts for the make a…