need help with my ez-go golf cart

[tammara1999]

Hi , im haveing trouble with my golf cart, i just got it and the charger wont charge the battery's, it takes a lester 36 volt charger, we jumped the cart to find out if it would kick on and it did move forword and backword. we cleaned all the cables and the guy i got it from said he just replaced the battery's last summer. but when you try the charger on the cart it wont even kick on, it dont do anything. i just dont know weather its the battery or charger, any help would be great, it is a three wheel golf cart and its an older model so please help thanks alot . tammara

[spriddle]

Welcome to forum Tammara! I'm not too informative on electrics but there are plenty here that are. I'm sure someone will be able to help out.

[napalaz]

Hey TAmmara I also have a 3 wheeler do the batts have atleast a small charge if they are tottaly dead the charger wont kick on. You may want to listen real close when you plug the charger to the cart you should hear a click. Post some picks when ever you get a chance

[roady89]

First make sure all the cables are clean and tight. If you have a volt meter check the pack voltage. I would bet all you need to do is bring up the pack voltage and the charger will kick on. The charger has to see at least 28 volts or so to kick on, any lower and it wont. You can charge 2 batteries at a time with a 12 volt charger and that should get them up enough.

[2stroke]

doesnt this cart use the charger that has the manual timer?

[tammara1999]

i did get it to start charging but i let it charge all night and it will only run for 15 min, i was wondering if i could change the 6 battiers thats in it for 3 regular car battiers, i think the batteries thats in it is 6 volts each, i have never had a cart befor so im new. but any help would be greatful, it uses a lester charger that came with the cart.
Thanks
Tammara

[roady89]

Yes..You can do it but the run time wont be much more than what your getting now. You could get some deep cycle marine batts to get a little more but not much. There is a date code stamped on the terminals....can you post the 2 digit codes and we can tell you how old the batteries are.

Possibly the batteries are toast if they have been drained for a long period....try charging them again overnight and see if the run time increases....be sure they have water to the proper level and be sure all your cables are clean and tight.

[AndyT]

Tammara, does your charger buzz REALLY LOUD? (Not just a hummm).

When I first got my cart the guy said the batteries were less than a year old, and it ran fine. When we got it home a fresh charge would only last about 15 minutes, then I had to go tow it home. Shelled out about $400 for another battery pack, and got the same results. Charged the batteries 2 at a time with 12V charger, and the cart ran for hours. (Just took a couple of days to recharge 3 pairs.)

Bottom line, it was a $15 diode in the charger (old Lestermatic with timer). Turns out the guy we bought it from had a second cart, and he alternated which cart was plugged-in to the charger (he used the newer of the two, and gave us the older one with the cart).

If you think this may be your problem, PLEASE have it done by someone qualified and knowledgeable of the electronics in there. The high current circuits inside the charger are DANGEROUS and we want to see you back here.

Addendum:
Also if you determine it is a diode, may as well replace both at the same time. (I wish I had.) Saves on shipping and labor, and whatever damaged one diode may have affected the other and it is probably stressed too.

[caddymankc]

Mine hums really loud but it charges fine.

[Danny redd]

i had to replace a wire from motor to the f&r switch it runs but no speed very slow i checked batteries i have 6.40 on all i put a load on it had 6.10 help thanks Danny Redd