Solenoid Troubleshooting

jbales

Greetings, I have a 1995 series cart that starting cutting out on me during normal use (<5 minute runs) at our lease last Fall. It was just occasionally, then it progressively got worse and then quit all at once and hasn't worked since (I suspect it was getting hot judging by the temp of the box cover, this was before I knew what was under the cover!).

The solenoid clicks when the pedal is pressed and I tried to jump the 2 large posts but it does not run the motor. I followed the directions I found below and got the result in bold. I had 37.1 volts from the pack and 37 through the solenoid on the battery side, and the same 37 on the controller side. I am just looking for a little confirmation that this could be a bad solenoid and not something more costly to replace. Also is it best practice to replace the resistors at the same time?

Turn the key switch ON and place in FORWARD
Connect (-) probe of meter to BL- battery post.(This probe will REMAIN on the post for the rest of the testing procedures)
Place the (+) probe on the battery side of the solenoid's large post (If the reading is below battery voltage, check all wiring and terminals).
Place the (+) probe to the controller side of the solenoid's large post. The reading should be 0.1 to 3 volts less than battery voltage.
If the reading is more than 3 volts less the battery voltage, the resistor is faulty.
If the voltage is the same as the battery voltage, replace the solenoid.

BGW

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scottyb

It sounds like you have a bad solenoid ... I would replace the resistor and diode at the same time. 250 ohm resistor and 1 amp diode. Good Luck

jbales

Thanks!

buckmanmike

I had problems with my cart that I thought was solenoid. Ended up being bad ground out of solenoid. Yes, I paid the $82 dumb tax. Double check everythink.

buckmanmike

I had problems with my cart that I thought was solenoid. Ended up being bad ground out of solenoid. Yes, I paid the $82 dumb tax. (new W/R solenoid) Double check everything.

buckmanmike

Sorry for double post for 1 letter change.

jbales

Well, back to the drawing board, I replaced the solenoid today with a known good one and got the same result.

scottyb

Put the cart on jack stands and connect a short battery cable across the solenoid from one large terminal to the other large terminal on the solenoid..... this jumper should make the cart run.... if not then tug on all motor, F&R, Controller and battery cables........ if none of those connections are bad/weak then likely your controller is bad.

jbales

Yeah, I've done that and no movement. Since this is a series cart, I'd like to just get it running again, what ballpark would a normal stock replacement controller cost?

scottyb

Alltrax 300amp lists for 328.00