Whether you use it for work or play, owning a golf cart can make transportation more convenient and even fun. Knowing how to properly service your golf cart can extend the amount of time you operate the vehicle. Your golf cart’s owner’s manual has helpful information on what maintenance to perform and how often. To get you started, ATV Trader—which has over 2,000 golf carts listed for sale—has provided six basics of golf cart maintenance.
1. Battery
There are two types of golf carts: gas and electric. Electric golf carts run on chargeable batteries. When you’re finished operating your golf cart at the end of the day, you’ll need to charge the battery so it’s ready for the next ride.
You should also check the water levels in your battery. If the lead plates aren’t fully submerged, you’ll want to charge the battery, then add distilled water until the water levels are above the plates. This will keep the battery working correctly.
Another part of golf cart battery maintenance is making sure the connections are both clean and tight. Remove any corrosion or dirt from the connections with a combination of water and baking soda.
2. Oil
If you have a gas engine golf cart, you’ll need to change the vehicle’s oil. To do this, you’ll first need to drain the old oil into a drain pan. Then, replace the oil with the type and amount of oil recommended by the manufacturer. How often you perform an oil change depends on the type of golf cart you have, so be sure to check your owner’s manual for guidelines.
3. Brakes
Since golf carts don’t go as fast as other off-road vehicles like four-wheelers, the brakes last longer. Before you operate your golf cart, check the brakes by pressing down on the pedal several times to make sure it’s safe to drive.
Golf cart brakes, including the brake pads, drums, and cables, should be inspected at least once every year to ensure they’re in good working condition. To do this, take a look at the brake cables for abrasions and damage. Check out this video for a tutorial on inspecting your golf cart’s brakes.
4. Tires
Inspect your tires on a regular basis to ensure they have enough air. Properly maintained tires can help keep your golf cart rolling smoothly. If you do notice that the air pressure is low, fill your tires to prevent them from wearing out quickly.
You’ll also want to inspect the tire tread to determine whether or not you need to replace the tires. Lack of tire tread can create a smoother tire, making it harder for your golf cart to grip the surfaces it drives on.
5. Bolts, Nuts, and Screws
Regularly check the tightness of all the golf cart’s bolts, nuts, and screws. This type of maintenance is simple to perform yourself—all you need is a wrench. Pay special attention to the steering wheel to make sure all the bolts are tight.
6. Lights
Street-legal golf carts are equipped with headlights, brake lights, and turn signals. Before operating your golf cart, make sure these lights are functioning properly. This is especially important if you drive your golf cart at night. If you find a light out, you can check the bulb, socket, and connections to determine what the issue is.
Whether you’re performing the maintenance yourself or taking the vehicle to a professional, it’s best to know how to identify and care for the parts of the golf cart used for regular operation. By performing frequent inspections and following the recommended maintenance for the battery, oil, brakes, tires, bolts, nuts, screws, and lights, you can keep your golf cart rolling for a long time.
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