ASK THE MECHANIC ASK THE MECHANIC

Q: My electric cart is running slow. What's the issue?

A: Let's start by naming some useful tools to have when owning a battery-powered cart. A multimeter, hydrometer and a battery discharge tester are the top three. A multimeter can measure voltage, resistance, and current. A hydrometer tests the chemistry of the battery. A discharger load tests a battery. Check the voltage of each battery by placing the red lead to the positive post and the black lead to the negative post at the same time. If you get a reading with less than the rated voltage of the battery, you may have a shorted cell. You can also check each battery cell's electrolyte with a hydrometer. First make sure that the electrolyte is at the correct level which is about 1/4" above the plates. By sucking the liquid into the hydrometer , a needle on it will show an individual cells specific gravity, which can indicate a strong or weak battery. Lastly, a battery discharge meter will load test the battery. When applying a load to the battery and the meter shows "weak" you can instantly see which battery is your culprit. One bad battery can shut your cart down. The rule of thumb is that a battery pack is only as good as your worst battery. Be sure to check all your wire connections for looseness or corrosion too.

Q: The voltage looks correct, and batteries test good. What else can I try?

A: Another component to your electric cart is a speed sensor which is located at the end of the motor. A faulty speed sensor can cause the cart to run very slow. A quick test to use to see if your speed sensor is working is to place the cart in forward mode and push it backwards. If you hear a beep or resistance when pushing the cart, then the speed sensor is working. If you do need to replace this part, the sensor unclips from the back of the motor with a small retaining ring. Be advised there is a magnet inside where the speed sensor is installed and also may be cracked which can cause a speed issue. Be sure to check that as well. Removing the rear wheel can make this replacement a lot easier.

Q: The sensor seems to be functioning properly, what else can I try?

A: Another component to check is a sensor in your pedal box which you would have to remove your mat in order to access it. On E-Z-GO the sensor is called an ITS (Inductive Throttle Sensor). On Club Cars it’s called an MCOR (Motor Controller Output Regulator). Both sensors regulate your pedal position to the speed input to the controller. On E-Z-GO check the microswitch that activates this circuit to be contacting properly while you're in there. Check for pedal binding on Club Cars.

Finally, if these areas are checked and still no results, you could have a faulty controller. It's best to have a dealer use a handheld scanner to see trouble codes within the controller pinpointing to where the problem may lie.