Owning a golf cart means that you will have to do some maintenance and repair it sooner or later. While significant damage will require a professional to look at it, you can perform basic golf cart repair yourself.
If you feel that your golf cart is damaged to needs to be repaired, make sure to follow these steps first:
Contents
Identify the issue
Do not start performing any golf cart repairs if you are unsure of what the problem is or where the damage is located. This will also help you determine whether you can repair the cart yourself or you need to get it professionally serviced.
If you’re planning on performing the golf cart repair yourself, ensure that you have all the necessary equipment before starting. You don’t want to delay the repairs if you lack any essential tools.
Some golf cart repairs that you can perform on your own include:
Replacing the golf cart battery
If your cart is not starting, check the battery to determine whether or not it is working. If the battery is dead, you will need to replace it. Replacing a golf cart battery is much easier than you might think. Although it may seem like a difficult task, changing out the battery for a new one will only take you about 15 to 20 minutes if you follow these simple steps:
1) Open up your golf cart’s hood and locate the release for the front cover. This release is usually found near the back of the driver’s side of the car and will be connected to a yellow or red wire that pulls out when tugged on.
The wire should be around eye level and easy to find after opening your car’s hood. Then, using pliers, pull on this wire and remove it from its harness to open up your front compartment.
2) Once you have opened up the front compartment, you will see the old battery. If the golf cart is not running, it may be due to a drained battery (this can happen if one of your lights has been left on).
3) Detach your negative cable by loosening or removing the bolt that holds it in place with your wrench set. This will be the black wire attached to your car’s negative terminal. Once it is off, remove the positive cable in the same way and replace them both with the new cables provided with your replacement battery.
Placing these cables on backward or putting an insufficiently charged battery into your cart could result in overheating of specific components and may even cause sparks to fly when connecting these cables back up after installation, so please double-check before attaching.
4) Once you have connected your new battery back up, replace the front compartment and pull on the wire you previously detached to close it. You will now need to take your golf cart for a drive so that your alternator can recharge its new battery. After driving, your car should be ready to go if it is drained. Otherwise, continue reading for more reasons why the golf cart is not starting.
5) If switching out the battery did not solve your issue or confident that this is no longer an issue, try charging both batteries by leaving them in overnight (or over 12 hours). Next, remove one of the cables from each terminal to ensure their polarity is correct upon reconnecting them. If one battery is not charged, it may have reverse polarity, and your car will need to be turned off again before attaching the cable.
6) If you have successfully corrected the issue by picking up a new battery or by charging both batteries, leave your golf cart alone for an hour or two before turning it on to ensure that your alternator has had time to assess your vehicle’s new battery thoroughly; otherwise, you might end up having to complete this process all over again.
7) Once you feel as though you’re ready to turn on your car and test its functionality, shut everything back down and make sure that both batteries are securely attached (you cannot run the car without them). If there is still no power in either battery, your alternator is not functioning. Again, it’s recommended that you leave this for a professional to fix, as it will be much easier than trying to attempt this yourself.
8) If the golf cart runs but there is no power in either of the batteries, check your car’s fuses and replace them if they are blown. This could cause an issue with the wiring of your electrical system and prevent both batteries from receiving enough current to start up properly. You can find these fuses by removing both batteries and looking on the inside of each compartment for where the wires connect.
9) If the cart still does not start up after replacing a blown a fuse, you will need to check all wires and fuses for any signs of damage. Also, look around your headlights to see if there are any loose or broken connectors, as this would cause a lack of power from reaching each battery.
10) Once you have checked over these things and still cannot determine the reason as to why your golf cart is not starting up, you should bring the cart to us so our repair department can diagnose the issue for you.
Checking tire pressure
Golf cart tires should be fully inflated, with no sagging around the base of the tires. If the pressure in your tire is low, you can fix it with an air pump. However, ensuring the tires are fully inflated will ensure a smooth ride for you and your passengers.
Every tire has a maximum pressure rating which should be listed on the tire’s sidewall. Never exceed this number when inflating your tires because it can cause damage to the structure of the tire. Also, remember that overinflated tires will wear out faster than underinflated ones.
When checking your tire pressure, make sure to use an air pump with a gauge that accurately measures pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI). Your owner’s manual will list what PSI is required for proper inflation, and you should check your tires before every ride.
If you cannot find this information in your owner’s manual, contact us so we can provide you with the correct PSI ratings for your tires.
Replacing golf cart tires
If you have a flat tire, you should first inflate it with an air pump. However, if it does not inflate, you can use a car jack to replace the tires and wheel rim. Make sure to use a jack rated for the weight of your golf cart and place it on a sturdy, level surface.
If you’re replacing both tires at once, ensure that all three of the jacking points are properly supported before moving forward with repairs.
Once you have placed your car jack under your golf cart’s frame, slowly lift the vehicle until the flat tire is off of the ground. Then, carefully slide out the old wheel rim and tire from underneath it and replace them with new ones. Finally, lower the car back onto its wheels and start riding!
If you’d rather have a professional do the work for you, feel free to bring your golf cart into our repair shop today! We will be more than happy to inspect your tires or replace them for you. If, after checking all of the items listed above and replacing any broken parts, your golf cart still won’t start up correctly, you should bring it to our shop so we can diagnose the problem for you. We carry batteries, chargers and other components for almost every golf cart make and model. Our technicians will be able to find out what is wrong with your cart quickly so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
If your golf cart needs professional maintenance and repair, contact Carts & Parts at (937) 459-8891 today. We’re happy to help you with any issues that you have and answer any questions that you may have regarding golf cart repair.
