CC Precedent Electric Smell

TommyBass

Hello all,
Just bought my first golf cart a couple weeks ago. Trying to learn as much as I can. 2005 CC Precedent IQ... 6" lift. It seems to be doing OK so far, but I believe it has the original batteries, because they still say Club Car? From what I've read it seems they may be approaching the end since they are 4 12 volts.

Anyways, there have been a couple times I have smelled an electrical "warm" smell. Not necessarily hot but almost that smell you get with electric trains. The first time it happened was when I tried to go up a decently steep hill very slow. I got halfway up and it just stalled out on me, and I smelled that smell a few seconds after I finally let off the pedal. I backed off and got a small running start and went up the hill just fine.. smell eventually went away, although I did smell a hint of it when I hit a mud puddle.

The second time I went over a small log that stalled it, where I had to back up and rock it over it. The smell went away after a few minutes that time too.

From what I've read on these forums, many people get smells when there is an electrical problem or loose connection. I havn't seen anything that looks warm, but I don't really know where else to look other than whats visible in the battery compartment. Is it possible that the previous owner just didn't use the cart hard enough, and some 'new' is burning off some parts? Can carts get some smell to them and still be OK? Or is it almost certainly a problem?
Not sure why it wouldn't go up the hill slowly, I figured the slower would be better with torque and all. I was the only person in it with no load... probably a 20ft tall hill at 35 degrees maybe? Thanks for your expertice!

BGW

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erict

I'm not exactly sure what your smell is but one thing you do not want to ever do with a sepex motor is stall it That will fry a motor.

shadowman

1st thing is have the batteries tested and load tested.....than when you smell it get off and start feeling cables and things ( carefully ) so you don,t burn yourself.........warm is ok but you don,t want hot like you grab and have to pull away because it burns some, i would start with batteries and cables and go from there....................................

TommyBass

It didn't stall for very long, I let off as soon as I could tell it had no more. I will check the batteries and cables, but like I said, I couldn't see anything in the under seat compartment the other times I looked. Cables and all seemed to be OK?

Is it common for a cart to stall on a hill like that? It was a dirt hill, not pavement. To me, the wheel would spin before the cart would ever stall... unless I just don't have enough battery power. That occured on a full charge.

shadowman

we don,t know if its lack of battery power or not so you at least have to test them......and grab and feel things no just looking at them a part can look brand new and be bad so get hands on with it.....................

TommyBass

Haha... thanks for the info. Sorry, I should be more clear about "not seeing anything". Im pretty sure its nothing under the seat... Im familiar with heat / cable / connection problems from my high voltage deep cycle networks in my fishing boats. I held the back of my hand slightly to the cables, and there was nothing that I considered to be suspiciously warm. Thats why I was asking is there anywhere else to check. I don't know where to look on these carts for other issues if it isn't something directly connected to the battery or main cables. Are there ever issues closer to the motor or computer etc? And if so where would I look for said things? I don't know all of the components and problem causing areas of these carts.


On the power side of things, I'll be sure to get the batteries checked out and load tested.

shadowman

the controller which is in the back on pass. side above the motor ........its a box looking thing about 3 to 4 inches by about 8 inches maybe 2 inches thick......you have cables running to it................heat is never a good thing so you want to keep on top and try and locate any issues before they fester on.............OBC shouldn,t be hot thats the thing that has a battery cable running thur it same general area as controller but drivers side..........and the solenoid, thats what clicks when you turn key on or press pedal......................now if the electrical system is all stock it could just be everything working harder because of the lift............if you upgrade cables and controller smell may disapear ( maybe )...................................

TommyBass

Ok thanks, I'll trace down those areas more next time I get a wiff. Thanks for being patient with my noobness. Im decently handy but you guys are helping me short cut alot, like I said, its my first cart. Im already addicted though!

sonicj

the smell could be ozone from the stalled motor. (ozone has a "electrical" smell) checking the commutator for excessive wear, debris, proper brush seating, etc. might not be a bad idea if you haven't done so already.
-sj

scubabud

I believe it was because of taxing the motor going up that hill or going over that log... it doesn't take much to burn out the motor when you do that. It state's in your manual and Plum Quick will tell you not to keep the pedal down if you're straining your cart, whether it's going up a hill, stuck in a ditch or trying to go over something that will put excessive strain on the motor.