Golf cart won't charge? Six common causes
You plug it in, nothing happens, and tomorrow's errands are on the line. Before you assume the worst, here are the usual suspects, roughly from most to least common.
Safety first. Batteries give off hydrogen gas while charging and can hold a lot of power. Don't smoke or make sparks near them, wear gloves and eye protection, and remove rings and watches before touching terminals. If anything looks melted or smells burnt, stop and call.
1. A worn or corroded charging plug
The plug and the receptacle on the cart take a beating. Look for green or white crust, bent pins, or browned and melted plastic. A loose, dirty connection can stop a charge completely or cause it to cut in and out. Melted plastic means the part needs replacing, not cleaning.
2. A blown fuse or tripped breaker
Many carts and chargers have a fuse in the charging circuit. Also check the obvious one: is the wall outlet working? Plug a lamp into it. Garage outlets on a GFCI can trip and quietly kill power to the charger.
3. Batteries drained too low
Many automatic chargers need to sense some voltage in the battery pack before they'll switch on. If the cart sat for weeks or was run completely flat, the charger may act like nothing is connected. This is common after a summer away, and it needs the right equipment to bring the pack back safely.
4. Loose or corroded battery cables
One bad connection anywhere in the battery bank can stop the whole pack from charging. Look for corrosion on the terminals and cables that move when you wiggle them. Corrosion should be cleaned off carefully, and loose terminals tightened, but not overtightened.
5. Low water in lead-acid batteries
If the plates inside the cells are exposed, the batteries can't hold a charge and get damaged. Check the levels after a full charge, and top up with distilled water only, never tap water.
6. A failed charger or onboard controller
Chargers wear out, and some carts have onboard electronics that control charging. If the outlet, plug, cables and batteries all check out, the charger itself or the cart's charging electronics are likely the problem. That takes a meter and some know-how to diagnose properly.
When to stop and call
- You see melted plastic, scorch marks or swollen batteries.
- The batteries are hot or smell like rotten eggs.
- You've checked the easy things and it still won't charge.
Still won't charge?
I'll come to you, test the charger, the receptacle and every battery, and tell you exactly what's wrong before fixing anything.
Call or text Poncho(352) 356-8868More guides
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