In last weeks post, we talked about great tips and tricks for maintaining a golf car and prolonging its life. But when should you start considering a visit to the shop? As I mentioned last week, an annual inspection is always a great idea for your golf car. It can help catch problems before they become more serious and more expensive, but there are some common issues that golf cars have over time that do require some expertise to diagnose and repair.

Electric golf cars: The most seen issue with any electric golf car is poor battery upkeep. Poor upkeep can mean several different things ranging from lack of charging or not charging the battery at all to not checking water levels regularly or even letting corrosion eat away at the battery nodes. All of these things can lead to the discharging and deterioration of the batteries which eventually requires a new set for the car to function properly.  The Solenoid is another critical component that can commonly have issues. Usually when you turn the key switch on, you will hear a click sound that lets you know the car is running. If you don’t hear that sound, it can mean that you are having issues with the Solenoid due to corrosion, loose wires or a broken internal coil. Another common issue seen with golf cars has to do with the cars alignment. Alignment issues, just like in your regular car, can start as a minor nuisance, but if not looked at, can become damaging and very expensive to replace. Usually alignment issues occur when riding with low tire pressure or on uneven surfaces for a prolonged amount of time.

Gas golf cars: Just like in an electric car, damaged alignment is an issue we see often. Always bring your car in if you start to experience alignment problems. Another common issue seen in gas car is problems with the gas valve. Over time and with continued use, the gas valve can become problematic. Issues with the gas valve can be categorized into two major problems. The valve may not be letting enough fuel into the engine, which make starting the car difficult or not allow it to run at all, or the valve can be allowing too much fuel into the engine, which can cause backfiring issues as well as the engine becoming flooded, which will not allow the car to start. Wiring and fuse issues may also arise. While some fuses are easy to replace on your own, wiring issues need further inspection because different wiring connects to several locations including the alternator, engine, and ignition switch. Unless you are very familiar with the wiring of a golf car, these wires can easily become mixed up or damaged, which can lead to more serious issues within the golf car.

It’s great to use our tips and tricks to keep a golf car functioning properly, but sometimes further expertise is needed. Our service department is ready to support and fix any of these larger issues so that you can hit the greens and pavement again soon. Remember, happy car, happy life.