Let’s be honest: it can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,000 just to replace a golf cart battery. Not only that, but you have to pay to replace it every five to seven years!
The point: Fixing your golf cart can get super pricey. Want a comprehensive checklist for your next vehicle tune-up? Here’s the ultimate golf cart maintenance checklist!
All About Golf Carts
Here’s the thing: golf carts are used to do much more than put around the green these days. Despite this fact, golf carts still need as much maintenance as a regular car does.
That being said, there are two primary kinds of golf carts: electric and gas. First of all, gas-powered golf carts basically function like mini automobiles. The only difference is that gas golf carts have a special “on-demand” engine.
What does this mean? In short, all you have to do is tap the gas pedal to start the engine. Of course, you can remove your foot from the gas pedal to make it stop too. Not only does this feature save gasoline, but it also cuts down on toxic emissions.
Can we be totally honest with you? The majority of golf carts on the market are only made to fit two people. But don’t worry – there’s still hope. That’s because you can customize your golf cart to add more seats or carrying room!
It gets better: you can also add souped-up motors, suspensions, and all-wheel-drive to your golf cart. That means more power for traveling over rough ground.
What’s the main difference between electric and gas golf carts? We’re glad that you asked. To tell you the truth, the key distinction comes down to the service manual.
That’s why we highly recommend that you purchase the proper golf cart service manual before you try to fix it yourself. Don’t know where to start? Here are the types of manuals that you need to get the job done:
- Manual for golf cart owners.
- Manuals for golf cart parts.
- A manual for golf cart repairs.
Got your manual ready? Read on to find out everything you need to know to fix your electric golf cart!
Fixing Your Electric Golf Cart
When it comes to vehicle maintenance for your electric golf cart, there are a few things that you need to know. First things first: the batteries inside of your golf cart give it enough energy to get you all through 18 holes on the course.
Want to take it to the next level? Use your golf cart to make quick runs to the grocery store. Better yet, take it offroading with you. But there’s a catch: the battery on a golf cart is one of the most common things to break down.
That’s why it’s so important to keep your electric golf cart up-to-date. Wondering how to fix golf cart batteries? We got your back.
Have you ever heard of deep cycle batteries? Even though they look exactly the same as a shallow cycle battery, a deep cycle battery is completely different. Want to know more? Here are some key characteristics of deep cycle batteries:
- Made up of electrolytes that contain a mixture of acid, lead, and water.
- Creates a strong current of electricity for a very long time.
- Need regular tune-ups to help them last.
- Use a lot of water through their life cycle.
Dying to know if you can swap out starting, lighting, and ignition batteries with shallow cycle batteries in an electric golf cart? The answer is no. That’s because starting, lighting, and ignition batteries just aren’t as powerful!
In case you didn’t know: You need to charge your golf cart battery properly for it to have a long lifespan. Need some tips? We got your back.
Planning to charge a deep cycle battery? Take a look at these tricks first:
- Always read the battery charging manual.
- Make sure to recharge your battery every time.
- Grab a 15-amp power cord to charge it.
That’s not all…
More Electric Golf Cart Tips
Do you want to learn how to fix your electric golf cart battery? Then you’ve come to the right place. News flash: you need to buy the right protective equipment before you get under the hood of your golf cart.
That includes investing in things like gloves, goggles, and special clothing to protect you while you fix your golf cart batteries. Insider tip: use to “run/tow” switch to keep your On-Board Computer in great condition.
Feeling lost? Make sure that you put your “run/tow” switch into the “tow/maintenance” mode before you make any repairs. Don’t forget to switch the key into the “off” position.
For those that are planning to use tools and wrenches, it doesn’t hurt to wrap them in vinyl electric tape to keep them from shoring out your battery. Why does this matter? Because this could make your golf cart battery explode!
Yes, you read that right. But have no fear – as long as you perform routine checks on your electric golf cart battery, it should last you for up to 10 years. Need a push in the right direction? Start by scheduling a monthly golf cart maintenance.
Here’s our checklist for electric golf cart repairs:
- Look for frayed wires, corroded terminals, and leaky batteries.
- Clean out your batteries, including the terminals and space around them.
- Make sure that the electrolyte level is high enough and add more water.
But what if you don’t have an electric golf cart?
Repairing Your Gas Golf Cart
Do you own a gas golf cart? If so, then there are a couple of essential tips to get you on the right track to repairing your gas golf cart. Here’s our checklist for gas-powered golf cart repairs:
- Peek at the engine to see if it’s leaking oil.
- Inspect the level of engine oil and change it if needed.
- Check out the generator, starter, and drive belts for wear and tear.
- Examine how tense the starter belt is. Tighten it up if necessary.
- Look at how the accelerator pedal links to the carburettor.
Want to take it up a notch? Perform the following repairs regularly for your gas golf cart:
- Buy an engine compression tester to see how compressed it is.
- Inspect the spark plug for signs of heavy usage. Replace if necessary.
- Replace or clean your golf cart’s air filter.
- Examine or replace your golf cart’s fuel filter.
- Take a look at your starter and generator brushes for wear.
Is your gas-powered golf cart considered to be “vintage?” Then there’s no harm in checking the condenser and points for signs of use. These can be replaced if needed as well.
Have you adjusted your timing yet? If it’s running a little rough, then you should check the timing for any issues. Want to learn how to inspect the batteries in your golf-powered golf cart? It’s exactly the same process as fixing electric golf cart batteries!
That doesn’t mean that there’s not any work to be done on your gas golf cart. Has your golf cart ever just stopped working? Make sure that you check out the gas situation before you do anything else.
Don’t know what to know next? Get up-close-and-personal with your battery cables to spot any signs of frayed or corroded wires. Are they connected tightly? If not, this could cause some major problems further down the road.
What’s the bottom line? Troubleshooting gas golf cart engines can be hard. But it doesn’t have to be!
Additional Gas Golf Cart Tips
On the hunt for additional gas golf cart tips? Then you’re in luck. While you’re at it, you might as well do a full inspection of your golf cart’s distributor cap. That’s because you’re looking for any moisture or cracks.
Found a wet spot on your distributor cap? Then you’re going to have to dab it out with a dry cloth and replace it. What if your spark plug wires are broken, cracked, or disconnected? Then you might want to swap those out as well.
But wait – there’s more. You should also replace any stiff or brittle wires in your spark plug. Plus, you need to set the gap correctly afterwards too. Got any burned or blackish cables? Replace them immediately!
What about inspecting the air filter element on your gas golf cart? You’ve got to check to see if it’s stuffed with dust or not. Why? Because too little airflow could make your engine stall on the green.
Lastly, take a look at the fuel lines that stretch from the tank of gas on your golf cart into its engine. Can you see any signs of leakage? Then that could mean that your golf cart engine doesn’t have enough gas to make it run.
What can you do to fix this? In a nutshell: you have to examine your golf cart’s fuel filter to see if it’s clogged. If that’s the case, then that could explain why your golf cart is stuttering along the course!
How to Make Your Golf Cart Last
Here’s the thing: it can be a bit difficult to make your golf cart last for the long run. That’s why we’re here to help. Want to store your electric golf cart for the winter?
Luckily, long-term storage is a no-brainer as long as you neutralize and clean the batteries first. Don’t know how? Get this: every time that your electric golf cart battery charges, it lets out a combination of acid, water, and gas into the atmosphere.
Naturally, this concoction falls onto other parts of the system too. This could potentially damage anything it touches. Don’t let this happen to you!
Just use neutralize your golf cart battery and take off any corroding parts by hosing them off with a blend of water and sodium bicarbonate.
Have a gas-powered golf cart? Then you don’t have to worry about following any fancy steps to store it properly. However, no matter what kind of golf cart you use, there will be times when you need to call in the pros.
That’s because a professional mechanic has the proper training to make sure that your golf cart runs flawlessly. They can also spot any red flags involving your golf cart during their maintenance procedure too. How can you beat that?
Don’t want to run into any issues on the golf course? You’re going to need to perform regular maintenance checks to make sure that this doesn’t happen. Whether you have a utility or leisurely golf cart, it’s vital to have a strict repair regime.
Want to sell your golf cart now? We can’t emphasize this enough: Do your research first!
Golf Cart Maintenance Is Totally Worth It
Want to make your electric or gas-powered golf cart last? Then golf cart maintenance is totally worth it. What makes us say that?
Because you need to conduct monthly checks to make sure that your golf cart battery, engine, and spark plugs are running well. Not to mention inspecting its generator, starter, and drive belts it.
Don’t know anything about fixing a golf cart? Fortunately, there’s nothing wrong with hiring a professional to assist you in this department. With their help, you can make sure that your golf cart is up and running in no time!
In the market for a new or used golf cart? Shop our listings for the best golf carts in town!
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Golf Carts.