Symptoms Of Bad Controller On Golf Cart

Both types of E-Z-GO controllers have a maintenance switch which should be flipped when servicing or troubleshooting. The switch is under the seat and should be changed to “Tow-maintenance” mode.

Disconnect the black battery cable (negative) from the battery, open the cover to the speed controller and then reconnect the negative battery cable.

Inspect all wires to ensure that they are attached and well connected, there are no breaks, corrosion or interference with the wires. Take the reading of the battery voltage by connecting the positive and negative probes to the battery. Write down the voltage reading.

Place the positive probe on the solenoid post that is closest to the battery. The reading should be equal to batterys voltage. If not, there is a wiring issue in the solenoid. Connect the positive probe to the other post and take a reading. If the voltage is not at least three volts less than the voltage reading for the battery, the resistor must be replaced.

X Common Symptoms of Controller Failure
  • Top Speeds Not Appropriate for Your Cart. Golf carts are designed to reach pretty specific speeds and to not go over them or beneath them. …
  • Sudden and Unexpected Slowing. …
  • Shuttering or Shaky Driving. …
  • Stalling Out and Refusing to Start. …
  • Surges in Speed When Driving.

Top Speeds Not Appropriate for Your Cart

Golf carts are designed to reach pretty specific speeds and to not go over them or beneath them.

And they achieve this goal with the help of the controller.

However, when problems with your golf cart’s controller start to begin or worsen, there’s a good chance that your cart may have speed control issues.

These can include top speeds that are not appropriate for your cart or which are not in their design for safe and efficient use.

For example, some carts have what is known as a “private” speed mode that allows you to reach speeds of up to 19 miles per hour.

Others have settings that range from normal speed (14 miles per hour), slow speed (13 miles per hour), and commercial speed (eight miles per hour).

Check the setting on your cart to figure out where it is set and what to anticipate from your cart when driving it properly.

If you find that you cannot reach these speeds at these settings or if your cart goes faster than these rates, you may have troubles with your controller.

As in most cases of controller issues, you’re going to have to upgrade your cart with a new controller to ensure that it operates properly.

In most cases, this step is fairly easy but is something that you’re going to have to get experts to help you with to avoid any complications.

Safety Note: If your cart starts reaching speeds that are much too high for its operation, you need to make sure to stop it immediately.

The safety issues of reaching excessive speeds with golf carts are much too high for you to tolerate.

In some instances, you may even find yourself experiencing some operational problems that may make this safety situation even more dangerous for you and other riders.

Shuttering or Shaky Driving

A properly operating golf cart controller will provide your engine with a smooth flow of electricity that should keep your cart running efficiently and at a reasonable speed.

However, a failure in the controller may cause shaking or stuttering driving that can be very frustrating and cause you troubles with your cart’s operation.

For example, your cart may run fine for awhile and then start to “jerk” as you ride.

This situation is usually the result of the controller mixing up signals from your speed sensor.

It thinks that you are driving at different rates very rapidly and can change your power level to attempt to meet these needs, causing a stuttering driving feel.

As a result, it is critical to get your controller examined, repaired, and replaced as soon as possible.

In many cases, this type of stuttering will go away fairly quickly if you just get the controller replaced.

If you notice any more repeated examples of this issue, there is a very good chance that your speed sensor may be at fault instead.

Safety Note: When your cart starts shuddering in this way, pull over and call somebody to come pick you up.

Shaking like this could cause damage to the inside of your cart, such as shaking loose important connecting wires.

When this happens, your cart won’t run nearly as well as it would have if your controller was working properly.

Symptoms of Bad Controller on Golf Cart

The golf cart controller is part of what is known as the speed sensor.

This part of your cart helps to interpret the speed of your motor and passes this information to the controller of your cart.

The cart then helps to keep your cart running smoothly and avoid the kinds of speed interruptions that can be frustrating and hard to manage.

It achieves this goal in a handful of ways.

First of all, it helps to slow down a golf cart if it gets too fast – in this way, it works with the governor to avoid any cart issues.

Just as importantly, the controller will distribute more power if a cart needs it.

Typically, this occurs if the cart is going downhill or when you accelerate it.

The extra power provides a speed boost that keeps your cart able to go into very rough terrain.

That said, the controller and the speed sensor also help to manage other parts of your cart’s operation.

For example, they help to manage the roll-away protection, which stops your cart from rolling on hills.

This protection comes into place if the cart senses that it is on an incline and the sensor and controller notice that it is moving.

They then activate the brakes to keep your cart in one place.

Beyond that, though, the golf cart controller also helps to control the regenerative braking of a cart to keep it strong and secure.

This step is critical because it ensures that your cart remains strong and secure without running into any issues.

In most cases, this process is one that your controller can handle easily without suffering from any problems that would plague its operation otherwise.

And when it is operating properly, you’ll rarely even have to think about the speed controller at all.

Unfortunately, there are instances when the controller may end up experiencing severe operational problems that can make it much weaker.

As a result, it is important to fully understand these concerns and to take steps to address them.

Thankfully, troubleshooting a controller is not a major challenge and should be something that most cart owners should be able to handle with little difficulty.

FAQ

How do you reset a golf cart controller?

The simplest test to ascertain your golf cart controller’s performance is to to watch whether it runs when the batteries are fully charged with a slight push of the pedal. If you hear a distinct clicking noise, then your golf cart is running correctly.

What does a controller do on a golf cart?

Easily Reset the Club Car Golf Cart OBC
  1. Key switch to off.
  2. Set forward/reverse to neutral.
  3. Put tow/run switch to tow.
  4. Disconnect the negative battery terminal from the battery pack.
  5. Put the tow/run switch to run.
  6. Put forward/reverse switch to reverse.
  7. Put key switch to on.

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