Golf Cart acting dumb

Burt Gummer

Burt Gummer

May Have Shorter Meme Posting Times Than U Normies
Staff member
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Charter Life Member
Benefactor
Vendor
Supporting Member
Salesman of the Year
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
21,353
Location
Julian, NC
Rating - 100%
101   0   0
Have a gas powered EzGo golf cart. It’s about 20 years old. I replaced the solenoid almost two years ago cause it wouldn’t crank and that seemed to fix it. Drove it the other day, parked it and the next day it won’t do anything. I have a solar trickle charger I plug it up to every time I park it. Been a lot of cloudy days I figured the battery was just run down from short starts and stops and it being cloudy. Decided to mess with it this evening, hooked jumper cables to it WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, and the fly wheel started spinning until I unhooked the jumper cables from the battery. Any ideas? Solenoid again and I’m overthinking it? I got on the webs and started reading and they started talking about ohms and amps and crap. I got to have it broke down Dick and Jane style like “See Spot Run” . Advice would be greatly appreciated, or just pick on me. I’m ok with both.
 
  • Do you have a volt meter to get a reading off the golf cart battery? If so what's the battery reading?
  • The solenoid could be stuck in the on position (welded tips), tap the side of it lightly (not the plastic or wires), then see if it still spins over when the jumpers are connected.
  • Its a threat to society, give it to me :D
 
Pink_Vapor said:
  • Do you have a volt meter to get a reading off the golf cart battery? If so what's the battery reading?
  • The solenoid could be stuck in the on position (welded tips), tap the side of it lightly (not the plastic or wires), then see if it still spins over when the jumpers are connected.
  • Its a threat to society, give it to me :D
Click to expand...
Took the battery out and charged it. Was like 12.4 volts when I put it back in. I’ll try tapping it tomorrow
 
Burt Gummer said:
Took the battery out and charged it. Was like 12.4 volts when I put it back in. I’ll try tapping it tomorrow
Click to expand...


If that doesnt work send me a picture of the solenoid I may have a spare if you need one to test with or try. I have some from where i rebuilt a winch several years ago if same size your welcome to but if batteries were low at some point and it pulled higher current it may have welded the contacts of one you installed.
 
Jp8819 said:
If that doesnt work send me a picture of the solenoid I may have a spare if you need one to test with or try. I have some from where i rebuilt a winch several years ago if same size your welcome to but if batteries were low at some point and it pulled higher current it may have welded the contacts of one you installed.
Click to expand...
I’ll get it out tomorrow evening or Wednesday and take a pic. This one lasted 2 years if that’s the issue. Not bad for $15 on eBay I guess
 
Burt Gummer said:
I’ll get it out tomorrow evening or Wednesday and take a pic. This one lasted 2 years if that’s the issue. Not bad for $15 on eBay I guess
Click to expand...
Try it with the charged battery, if it’s still acting up tap the metal side of the can and try it again before you remove it.
If the tap fixes it, that’ll confirm the can’s bad.
 
Burt Gummer said:
I’ll get it out tomorrow evening or Wednesday and take a pic. This one lasted 2 years if that’s the issue. Not bad for $15 on eBay I guess
Click to expand...

Think the last ones I picked up were from dbelectronics which is another cheap source for them.
 
If that is the issue. Look for a white Rodgers glow plug relay for a 7.3 diesel. Buy once buy never again.

If I come across something that requires high draw solenoid. Thats what I use.
 
Burt Gummer said:
Have a gas powered EzGo golf cart. It’s about 20 years old. I replaced the solenoid almost two years ago cause it wouldn’t crank and that seemed to fix it. Drove it the other day, parked it and the next day it won’t do anything. I have a solar trickle charger I plug it up to every time I park it. Been a lot of cloudy days I figured the battery was just run down from short starts and stops and it being cloudy. Decided to mess with it this evening, hooked jumper cables to it WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, and the fly wheel started spinning until I unhooked the jumper cables from the battery. Any ideas? Solenoid again and I’m overthinking it? I got on the webs and started reading and they started talking about ohms and amps and crap. I got to have it broke down Dick and Jane style like “See Spot Run” . Advice would be greatly appreciated, or just pick on me. I’m ok with both.
Click to expand...



Ok do you wanna be Dick or Jane? Sorry just had to.

Solenoids 101: Short of having and knowing how to use a multimeter you can still check to see what the problem is. Since you said it turned over with the cables hooked up and the key not in the ignition that means that all conditions for starting have been meet without the key. In other words: something is broke.

How do you find the something? Start at the solenoid. Helps to know how it works. Most solenoids are 3 or 4 terminals. 2 large and either 1 0r 2 small. One large is from the battery, the other is to the starter(or to a starter mounted or another remote mounted solenoid). Not important which one just yet. The small terminals are power from the key switch and ground to the frame(or grounded thru the body of the solenoid in the case of only 3 terminals.

Hook the battery up (fully charged ) and see if the starter turns over. If not the problem is probably hiding waiting to bite you again at a future time but don't assume this. Just for shits and giggles hook up the jumper cables again and see what happens. I know the battery is charged but don't assume it is good. Hookem up any way. It it doesn't turn now the problem is waiting for the right moment to strike. If it does turn the battery is likely bad.

If it turns with either the battery or the cables start at the terminals of the solenoid. If it has only 3 unhook the smaller of the 3, if 4 then find the one that comes from the key switch and unhook it being careful not to let it touch anything metal. . Try the battery or cables again. I assumed you knew enuff to disconnect them once you found out it still turns over. If it still turns over now then the solenoind is shorted and sending current to the starter all the time. Problem found. Replace it. If it no longer turns over now but does again when the small terminal is reattached then current is being sent to the solenoid on this wire all the time. Likely the key switch is shorted. Quick test for this is to disconnect this wire from the key switch while leaving the solenoid end hooked up. In the unlikely event it still turns now then this wire is getting current from another source. You will just have to search and fined it. This is why a wiring diagram is so critical.

Hope that helps and wasn't to long winded. If you need more help PM me and I will give you my number and you can call me and I will try to help you that way. And if some of you folks would learn that there is life on the east side of Raleigh I would drive over and help. :rolleyes:;)
 
Got a 300A solenoid in the mail today. Took battery out and it had literally zero volts when checked with my meter. Checked water in it and charged it to 12.3 volts when I took it off the charger. Installed new solenoid and then battery and it fired right up like nothing had ever been wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom