How Do You Maintain a Golf Cart?

Golf carts are great for traveling around retirement communities, vacation spots and, of course, golf courses. Whether you’re a dedicated golfer with your very own cart or a business owner with a whole fleet of carts under your care, regular maintenance is key to keeping your golf cart running smoothly. Here are six basic things you can do to keep your golf cart in optimal condition.

Charge Your Golf Cart Battery Regularly

The best thing you can do for your golf cart’s battery is to make sure that it’s regularly charged. Allowing the charge to drop too low can shorten its lifespan significantly. Try and charge your battery every time it drops to 50% of its total capacity.

Should I Leave My Golf Cart Plugged in All the Time?

While you want to keep your battery charged, you also need to avoid overcharging, which can cause its own set of problems. If you have a standard charger, be sure that you monitor the charging process and disconnect it once your battery hits its ideal charge. If you don’t feel like doing that, you can pick up an automatic charger that will switch itself off to prevent overcharging.

Batteries Plus has a number of automatic chargers for golf carts, including the Schauer 36V Charger for 6-volt golf cart batteries and the Schauer 48V Charger for 8-volt batteries. Both of these chargers have a float stage to prevent overcharging, making them perfect for off-season storage.

Maintain Your Battery’s Electrolyte

If you have a flooded battery in your cart, you’ll need to regularly maintain the electrolyte solution inside it by topping it off with distilled or deionized water. Check your battery’s levels about once a month. If you need to top off your battery’s levels, only do so after you’ve charged the cart. When watering your battery, add enough water so that the electrolyte sits between 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the battery’s plates. Any more than that can negatively impact the battery’s performance.

Clean Your Battery Terminals

Corrosion can build up on your battery’s terminals, harming its performance and damaging the battery itself. If you notice a buildup of white, green or blue material, you can clean it off using a mixture of baking soda and water and a wire battery terminal brush. Start by disconnecting your battery cables. You’ll also want to use gloves and goggles to help keep you protected.

Mix a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water, then use your brush to scrub the solution onto the corrosion. Cover the terminals with a light coat of dry baking soda, then pour a small amount of water on each terminal (make sure none of the water gets into the battery itself). Once you add water, the baking soda will start bubbling as it neutralizes the acidic corrosion, making it safe to handle.

Once the terminals are clean again, you can help keep them that way by using an anti-corrosion spray or by covering them with a pair of terminal protectors.

Check Your Headlight Bulbs

If your cart comes equipped with headlights, keep an eye on them to make sure that they’re functioning properly. Batteries Plus carries a number of halogen-based replacement bulbs, which follow the same sizing standards as cars. Check your owner’s manual for details on what size bulbs your cart accepts, then enter the part number into our site. Some of the most commonly used bulb sizes include H4, H11 and H84.

Replace Any Blown Fuses

If you’re having an issue with your lights, fans or any other electrical application in your golf cart, it may be due to a blown fuse. Locate the fuse box that’s related to the malfunctioning issue and remove the blown fuse. Compare the shape and size to this Fuse Selection Chart opens in new window to help you determine the fuse type and size you need.

Next, you’ll need to identify the correct number of amps, which should be written on the side of the fuse itself. When selecting a replacement fuse, always be sure the new fuse has the same amperage as the old one.

Shop Batteries Plus for golf cart fuses, or bring the blown fuse to your nearest Batteries Plus location. Our experts will be happy to help you find the correct replacement.

Keep Your Golf Cart Tires Filled

Check your tire pressure once a month and keep an air compressor on hand in case they need filling. This will prevent unnecessary wear and help your tires last longer.

Follow these basic maintenance tips to keep your golf cart powered up and ready to ride. Batteries Plus offers a variety of additional golf cart essentials. Check out our list of top 10 golf cart accessories or browse our selection of golf cart batteries. If you’re experiencing issues with your current battery, just bring it in and we’ll test it for you free. Many of our stores can even cut replacement keys for your cart. Contact your local store for more details.