Pathway build help

joshgallo

I recently bought two 2003 CC Pathways in an auction. One aesthetically better, electronics all work, etc. The other looks like it was left outside, electronics are rusted, no lights, no window, ripped seats, nothing lights up but it is about 5 MPH faster.

I'd like to take the best parts and build one good cart and sell the other.

I guess my first question is how can I diagnose the speed issue. Is it a battery thing, motor, or computer problem?

would it be easy just to pull the bodies off and swap them. put the good looking body on the faster cart.

I'm looking for advice on where to start. Is it just a matter of maybe testing all the batteries and finding the best ones? Ideally if I could make the slower one faster i'd do that and call it a day.

Any advice would be helpful. I'm mechanically inclined but new to golf carts.

BGW

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Lochlin

I have a Pathway. Those carts are 48v DS (IQ) models that were fancied up to be street legal. Guys may be confused as to what a Pathway is.

Other guys here know WAY more about these carts than I do. I am just trying to get some action going. If I am off-base here someone will correct me:

Those carts have controllers that are programmable via the little port under the f/r lever. It could be as simple as the nice cart is programmed for a lower speed than the beater. I think only a Club Car dealer can change that but don't take my word for it.

Certainly, batteries can be a huge factor. After a full charge, test them each individually. You can do this while they are still connected and in the cart. Batts should be close to 8.5 or so after a charge when new. That number will drop over time though. Anything nearing 8v after a charge means it's just about time for replacing. For now, you can put the best one's in the nice cart to see what happens.

You may want to clean all of the "big wire" electrical connections to make sure contact is good. That can affect things too.

Motors should be the same in each. Those are pretty rugged motors so it's unlikely that they are the cause.

Changing the bodies on the Pathway is a lot more difficult than regular Club Cars as those funky roll bars have to all come off. I was going to paint mine but decided against it once I saw the work involved in getting the body off. I may just paint it with the body on or just leave it alone.

What speeds are you seeing on each cart?

tlsapp12

Could you show a picture?

Lochlin

I dont want to hijack this thread but I just want to post a couple of pics as it relates to the body. Those are net pics I found.

You can see the front is pretty much standard save for the auxillary turn signals on the cowl. Most people removed these. The back is where things get tough body-wise. There are holes in the body that the roll bar goes through and attaches to the frame. That rear body can't come off unless the roll bar comes off first. The roof is also integral to the roll bar too. The roll bars on these aren't fake either. These things came equipped with full seat belts like cars have. Most people took those off too though. The seat belts mounted to the roll bar. In theory, if the cart flipped the occupants will stay inside and be protected (operative words there are "in theory").

Attached Images

	Pathway Front.JPG (32.3 KB, 0 views)
	Pathway Rear.JPG (31.3 KB, 0 views)

joshgallo

This is very helpful, thank you. I'm seeing 14mph on one and 19 on the other.

joshgallo

I can take more detailed ones if needed

Attached Images

	2015-11-13 12.56.14.jpg (216.7 KB, 0 views)
	2015-11-13 12.55.25-1.jpg (216.0 KB, 0 views)

Lochlin

19 is right where you want to be with that one cart. Really, other than checking the batts I would have someone check the speed setting on the other one.

Someone here may actually know what the actually speed settings are. Unfortunately I don't.

TahoeDawgZ71

One of them probably has a high speed code (Setting #4) to allow for more speed. The slow cart is most likely set on speed setting 3. You could have a dealer change the speed setting, usually for around 100 bucks, or you could install a high speed magnet in the motor of the slower cart and possibly end up with a slightly higher speed than the other cart. It will have a GE motor unless it's been changed at some point. There are two magnets. If you decide to go that route, make sure you get the GE motor magnet and not the ADC.

joshgallo

Is the speed setting in the motor or an external module? If it's external could I just swap them?

The batteries on the slower cart range from 8.4-8.2V after a full charge.

TahoeDawgZ71

It's programmed into the motor controller. Speed setting 4 will allow for more speed before the motor braking turns on to limit max speed. Speed setting 3 is 14.8MPH, speed setting 4 is 19.6MPH. A high speed magnet doubles the allowed RPM by cutting the speed signal in half. Make sure you understand that this is "allowed" speed and not actual speed. If you double 14.8 you get 29.6 and there's no way your cart will have enough power to reach those speeds, but you'll run at least as fast as the other one and maybe a little bit faster.