We can hear the panic in your voice. The family is visiting, and you want to take them out on your Golf Cart. You turn the key and push the accelerator pedal and … NOTHING! First, take a deep breath. Second, here are some things that you can check on your own that may help you get out on the road.
- Check the battery connections. Are the cables securely connected? Are the terminals clean and corrosion free? Are the batteries charged?
- Take a look at your key switch. If it is in the on position and the cart is still not starting, you could have a faulty key switch, which may need to be replaced.
- Check our cart’s fuse box for any blown fuses. If you see a fuse that looks blown, replace with a new fuse with the same amperage.
- Make sure you do not still have your cart plugged in to a charger. There may be a safety feature that will prevent your cart from starting if the charger is still plugged in.
- Check the brake pedal switch. There are carts that have a safety feature that requires the brake pedal to be depressed before the cart will start.
- If you try to start your cart and you hear a clicking sound, it could be a solenoid. The solenoid is responsible for transferring electrical signals between the battery and the starter motor.
- If you aren’t hearing the clicking and the motor is not turning over, you could have a faulty starter motor. Check the connections to see if something may be loose.
- If you are familiar with golf cart mechanics, check your cart’s speed controller as it could malfunction. Controllers may show error codes or have unusual lights that will tell of malfunction.
- If you have a gas cart, of course, check your fuel level. If it looks good, check your spark plug. A fouled or damaged spark plug can prevent the engine from starting.
As most of us know, gas carts do require tune-ups, but you can also bring an electric cart in for a “tune-up”. Our techs can check battery run time, and also give every thing a look to stay ahead of any issues.
