Ask The Mechanic is a featured section in our print magazine. We have industry experts on staff to help with all sorts of golf cart questions, issues and reviews. Everything from frequently asked reader questions, to service tips that will help your golf cart last longer. Check back each month for new questions from our experienced staff.
November 2020:
Q: What’s The Proper Way to Water My Golf Cart Batteries?
A: Watering your golf cart batteries is an important task and when done correctly, it is the best way to prolong the life of the battery. It can damage the batteries when done incorrectly.
Batteries have metal plates inside and a good rule to follow is to never let the water level dip below the top of these plates. When adding water fill to about ½ inch above these plates. The best time to water your batteries is after a full charge. If you fill the water before a charge it can cause the acid bubbling that could potentially destroy your batteries. We suggest checking them once a month with normal use.
Q: Should I Purchase A Gas or Electric Golf Cart?
A: This decision will primarily be based on how you intend to use the cart. A gas-powered golf cart can generally provide you with more power, speed and range. Most gas golf carts are sold to customers with large properties or those in need of more power.
Electric golf carts are quiet and generally less expensive to maintain than gas powered golf carts. They are easier to use as long as you remember to charge them daily. There are far less parts in an electric cart so there are far fewer things that can break.
Q: How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries last?
A: Batteries can range in their life cycle, depending on a few factors. The biggest factor would be how they are maintained and making sure the water is properly filled. We have seen customers get 6-7 years out of a set of batteries with normal use. If you use your golf cart more often, the average range should be 4-5 years. Another factor would be the type of battery, the lower cost options won’t have the best lifespan. Stick with Trojan, Crown or US Battery and you can’t go wrong.
October 2020:
Q: How often should we actually check and fill our golf cart batteries?
A: To get the longest life out of your batteries and the best performance you should check these every month, even if you’re not using the cart. Make sure to only fill them just past the metal inside the battery.
Q: Should I be rotating my tires and if so how often?
A: Yes. We suggest you rotate your tires once a year and move them from corner to corner (right front to left rear and left front to right rear). If you are noticing some wear on the side or outside of the tires you may want to check your alignment.
Q: Does adding bigger tires and a lift really increase my top speed?
A: Yes, it certainly does. It’s all about physics and the way electric motors work. A full tire revolution covers less ground when the tire is smaller so larger tires will allow you to cover more ground, thus a higher top speed. Generally you can get 2-4 mph more from 23” tires versus stock.
Q: How long should a new set of higher-end batteries like Trojan last?
A: That depends on the use, but for normal, average use and assuming you are maintaining the water levels you can expect to get up to 5-6 years from a set of batteries.
September 2020:
Q: What are some things I should look for when buying a gas golf cart?
A: The most important thing to look at on a gas golf cart is the engine. You want to inspect it carefully and look for any wear or leaks. Inspect the wiring and look for any lose connections, wear, melted or damaged wires.
If additional accessories are installed like headlights, brake lights, and turn signals, check those wiring connections as well.
Take the golf cart on a test drive as that will often times tell you a lot about the cart. If you have a rough ride or hear noises from the suspension or tire areas, inconsistent throttle or breaking response, there could be a much bigger issue.
Q: How many hours will a gas golf cart last?
A: Gas golf cart engines, with proper maintenance, should last approximately 3000-4000 hours before any major repairs are needed. Without proper maintenance, this could be significantly less.
Electric carts will last much longer than gas carts as they require less moving parts. If you change the batteries every 4-5 years you can easily get 10-years of normal use before any major issues occur with the drivetrain.
Q: What’s the difference between a 36 volt and 48 volt golf carts?
A: The 48 volt golf carts use one-third less amperage than 36 volt systems and are more much more efficient. Golf carts with 48 volt systems get longer battery life than golf carts with 36 volt systems and generally can travel 30% further on a full charge.
August 2020:
Q: What is the bolt pattern size for golf cart wheels?
A: Golf Cart wheels all have a bolt pattern of 4×4 (4 inches by 4 inches, or 100mm apart). This is the standard on all major golf carts (Club Car, EZGO, Yamaha…) If you measure diagonally from the top bolt hole on the hub to bottom bolt hole you can confirm this.
Q: What’s the difference between a golf cart and an LSV?
A: Simply put, an LSV (low speed vehicle) is registered with the DMV, just like a car and must have all the necessary safety features like; DOT approved windshield, turn signals, head lights, safety belts, horn. Some state have different regulations, please check with your local DMV.
Q: Do I need insurance on my golf cart to drive it in my neighborhood?
A: This is a tricky question as most states are different but generally we recommend that you add your golf cart to your insurance policy just to be safe incase anyone gets hurt or you get in an accident. Most auto insurance complies like Progressive and Allstate have options for golf carts that range from $100-$250 per year and can be easily added to your current policy.
July 2020
Q: My battery cable ends seems to be melting or get extremely hot. What’s going on?
A: This could be caused by the cables not being tightened properly and causing an arch and extreme heat. Make sure the connections are cleaned and your cables are tightened down making a solid connection with the battery posts. This could also be caused by faulty or improper gauge cables. You want to make sure these cables are a minimum of 6 gauge (which most stock carts come with), but we recommend 4 gauge or even 2 gauge, especially if you are going to modify anything with the electrical system in the cart.
Q: What is the difference between a golf cart and a LSV (low speed vehicle)?
A: The simple answer is LSVs are registered vehicles with the DMV. In some states an LSV is considered an automobile and must follow most the same rules and regulation as a typical car. LSVs must have the proper safety accessories such as headlights, turn signals, break lights, a horn, DOT approved windshields, seat belts and they must be able to reach a speed of 25mph. LSVs in some states can be driven on the roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less. Please check the laws with your state’s DMV for exact information on rules and regulations.
Q: My cart will only move a few feet and then stop. What should I check first?
A: We get this question a lot and the answer could be many different things but the most common cause is a bad or improperly connected forward / reverse switch. This problem happens very often and the forward reverse switch is probably the most replaced part on a golf cart. They get used a lot and often times go bad or the connecter on back comes loose. It’s a simple fix and a very inexpensive part for most golf carts, so we recommend checking this first, making sure the connections are solid or replacing it all together.