Whether you’re heading out to the golf course or for a joy ride around the community, follow these essential steps to make sure your golf cart is in top-notch shape for spring and summer driving.
Start With Your Cart’s Battery
keeping your cart’s battery in good working condition is key. if you want to avoid telling your repair person, “It just quit on me!” then get into the battery maintenance groove.
as batteries age, they provide less power. If yours isn’t getting you around the links and back to where you park and charge it, then maybe it is time for a replacement.
Here’s other signs you have serious battery trouble:
You step on the pedal and not much happens: When a battery is past its prime, the cart won’t accelerate like it once did. The fix is easy, but expensive — a new battery pack.
Test your battery using a voltage meter: Normally, the battery will show a few volts higher on the charger than its rated voltage. Even if it seems to be in good shape, test it again once the batteries are fully discharged.
You have to turn the key several times before it starts: This could be a problem with the battery, but it also could be that the ignition key switch is worn out or the wiring to the ignition is frayed. It’s not a tough fix, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, contact an expert at SC Carts.
Check Out the Rest of the Cart
After you’ve gotten the battery into prime shape, here are six other areas to pay attention to so your golf cart will be ready to roll.
Fill the tires: If the tires aren’t properly filled, you’ll get less range from your cart. If you drive your cart mostly on streets, purchase street-legal tires with tread. Turf tires wear out more quickly and don’t stop well on wet roads. Owning an electric pump to make it easy to fill the tires is also a smart move.
Check the steering: If it feels loose, tighten it yourself or have an SC Carts tech to look at it.
Step on the brakes: It costs a lot to replace bad brakes that have been seriously damaged by overuse. Before you step on the brakes and they squeal, and long before the pedal goes immediately to the floor, it pays to have a professional check your brake cables, hydraulic brake fluid and brake shoes. Doing these checks yourself requires some specialized knowledge.
Listen for the buzzer: If your back-up buzzer doesn’t work, you could be in trouble. This signal lets people know that you’re backing up. If it isn’t working, get it fixed immediately. Silence can be a serious safety issue on a crowded course.
Invest in professional service: It’s a good idea to have your golf cart professionally serviced by the SC Carts service department once a year. This checkup includes cleaning the batteries, checking for oil leaks and examining the power cables.
Clean and wax: Start by protecting or removing anything like a GPS that can be damaged by water. Wash your cart like you wash your car, add a layer of wax and then polish, working from top to bottom.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact us today and we would be happy to help!
