2004 EzGo PDS - Now what...

tommy-g

Hi all,

I have owned this cart for about 10 years now, and seems like its always something :)

Anyway, I didn't use it all summer, I would go charge it about once a month, but never really ran it.

I took it out this past weekend, went around the neighbor hood (not even 1/4 mile), I have a decent hill back up to my house, and the cart all but died going up it.

Prior to that I had charged with an automotive charger, 2 6v batteries at a time, to get the pack "fully charged".

After that, I went back to the garage, took out a battery and it say K2, which I am guessing is 2012. However, I would swear I have bought them sooner. Possible I bought old batteries??

Pack read 37.8, I decided to let the 36v charger have another go at it over night.

This morning, I read 38.2 after unplugging, though I assume the cart hadnt charged for awhile.

My goal now is to get home sometime tonight, and test pack again.

Then maybe alligator clip the pack, and drive it around to see how far the voltage drops during ride?

Does this sound right? Am I looking at a set of new batteries??

thanks for any input.

BGW

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scottyb

Yes and yes or just install an in dash digital battery meter so you will always know what the pack voltage is sitting or under load.

tommy-g

Good idea, just ordered the standard meter from your site.

I have the LED bar one but obviously, it doesn't help much.

I am sure its on this site somewhere, but can someone outline how to handle these cart batteries?

I basically use my cart every fall while we go camping. Most of the rest of the time it sits in the garage. I sometimes look and see the gauge is low, so I plug it in. Might be plugged in for a month, I really have no idea. Next time I go out and happen to see it, I may unplug it.

So it isnt used all winter and mostly spring or summer it isnt used. But at times I want to take it out, then I seem to have issues...

Where can I find a good resource to explain what to do with a cart that sits alot. Unplug whole pack? Keep on charger?

Thanks for the insight, I will wait for my new meter before I continue.

BobBoyce

Upgrading to a lithium pack is the best thing for a cart that can sit unused for a long time.

tommy-g

FYI it’s 2007, not 2004 :) )

Took charger off this morning..

Came home after work cart was 37.9
Drove around the dead end, level maybe 200ft dropped to 28.8 while driving.

Parked for a minute was 37.0

Had another adult get in, tried going about 1/5 mile, then up a medium hill, cart barely made it, still dropped about the same to 28.5

Parked again and sat 2 mins pack at 36.1


Any help with these numbers?

If it’s batteries, does this stuff work ?
https://www.ebay.com/p/Golf-Cart-Bat...92f2effff271ee

budlight592

Following this as well, my pack shows the same after a 12hr rest after charge but also drops when accelerating but comes back up a little.

scottyb

The wet cell lead acid battery pack ( standard Golf Cart power pack) will go down in voltage under live load and recoup at rest. This is normal. 36.1 is about as low as you should let the 36v pack get at rest. Fully charged it will read 38.4 volts 12 hours after the charge has ended

cgtech

And no, don't go pouring "snake oil" in your batteries. If this stuff was real, you would know, because everyone would be raving about how great it is. But you don't hear that. It's just like the asprin trick, or the Epsom salt trick, if there is any gain at all it will not last long (usually causing further harm in the long run). It sounds like your batteries need a lot more charging than theyre getting. Just because the charger sat connected for a month doesn't mean it's charging. Most chargers only charge to full, then just shut off completely. Some will come back on later if needed, but many need to be unplugged and replugged at the cart to start again. 37.0 volts is far from full, I suggest checking each individual battery voltage for uniform readings. Then I suggest several back-to-back charge cycles to see if we can get that voltage up.

sunking

Classic Death of a Pb Battery.

• When put the battery on a charger, everything appears normal. But if you stuck around or monitored the charging process, you would likely notice it did not take long for the charger to cycle, but charge light is green. (Your charger got fooled and giving a False positive)
• You measure the voltage and see fairly normal voltages.
• Then you try to use the batteries and they are discharged very quickly, or voltage collapses when you apply a load.

The battery will not take a charge, or give a charge. It is DOA.

tommy-g

I thought the dropping so low under load was an indication of bad batteries, but nobody mentioned it being so low...

Busy yesterday, checked cart just now, its at 37.5 (thanks to the new digital meter in dash)

I plugged in the 36v charger, it jumped to 38.9 while plugged in...

Going to let it charge for a while, see when it cuts off what the cart is at. To sunkings point, I will check in on it every hour or so, see when it cuts off...

Still feeling like these batteries are not going to cut it...