No response from pedal?

edman87k5

I have searched and found nothing really like this on here, so here it is.
I have a 92 I believe ezgo 36v marathon. After it has sat for a while (a couple hours or overnight), I get no response from the pedal. I put the key in, turn it on, press the pedal and nothing. No movement, no solenoid click. If I wait a few minutes and/or pump the pedal quite a few times ( sometimes maybe 20, sometimes my leg needs a break) the solenoid will click and it will work fine for however long I use it, even if I stop for a few minutes to do something anf get back on. If I wait too long, I will have to repeat the pumping.
Anyone have ideas on where to start troubleshooting this?
Possible related issues: It seems slower than it should to me, not really a problem, but still may be a realted issue.
Also, on occasion, when taking off, its as if you are still pushing the throttle for a few extra seconds and I have to hit the brake to stop it.Again, not that bothersome, but possibly a related issue?
ANY help is appreciated!

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

JohnnieB

Welcome to BGW!

You didn't say whether it was a resistor or controller style Marathon, but in either case, there is a microswitch attached to the throttle linkage, that is the last link in the series chain that activates the solenoid.

When the pedal is up, part of the linkage presses the lever on the microswitch, opening the Normally Closed (NC) contacts.
When the pedal is pressed, a little bitty spring inside the microswitch closes the NC contacts.
Sounds like the spring is weak or the switch is gummed up.
That may be what is causing cart not to run when you push the pedal.

As for continuing to run after pedal is up, the throttle microswitch NC contacts aren't being opened by linkage (Linkage/microswitch adjustment?) or the solenoid contacts are sticking.

As for speed, about 12 MPH is all a stock marathon will do.

edman87k5

It is a controller cart. As for speed, I do have an old 3 wheel resistor ezgo that is a lot faster.
As for the microswitch, I will give it a look. I do hear and feel the microswitch clicking in the first 1/2" of pedal movement, but havnt put a meter on it yet.

scottyb

Sometimes a failing solenoid will click with no result intermittently.

edman87k5

When it does it, the solenoid will not click. The clicking I was referring to was the microswitch.
I used it for a while just now, only pushed the pedal twice before it worked, but I did have the seat off and was feeling up the microswitch. I sprayed it good with contact cleaner after driving to my shop, but will pull it off and clean the switch and terminals when I get a chance.
The slow speed does not bother me, just thought it may be related. I use it for hauling my trash cans to the road and checking the mail and going/ bringing stuff back and forth from my shop. Today it got a good bit of use as I sprayed 16 gallons of roundup, made numerous trips to the shop and went around poisoning ants.

JohnnieB

Sure acts like a gummed up microswitch.

Personally, if I went as far as taking that switch off, I'd put a new one on.

While you are working with the Pot-Box, I'd make sure the potentiometer was telling the controller to turn on all the way.
That might be why a controller cart is slower than a resistor cart.

Quick check:
Measure voltage between B- and M- on controller.
Should read full battery pack voltage when solenoid first clicks and very close to zero volts when pedal is all the way down.

JohnnieB

FWIW:
Back in the 70's when I had the honor of teaching some of America's finest young men and women (USAF) how to troubleshoot and repair medical equipment, we would place a small piece of invisible tape (looks frosty - disappears when applied) on one of the contacts in a relay (solenoids & contactors are basically relays).

The student could hear and/or see the contacts close, but it didn't work.

The point was to make them use test equipment as well as their eyes, ears and minds.

Needless to say, our students could troubleshoot almost anything and use all types of test equipment by the time they finished the course.

scottyb

The Good Lord has continued to provide similar tests for me, lol.

The first solenoid that clicked without contact I ran across cost me an extra trip, you don't forget that way.

JohnnieB

To say HE has provided me with my fair share of humbling experiences would be a gross understatement.

One might gain knowledge from reading books and listening to lectures, but to get experience, you have to make mistakes and learn from them.

scottyb

Good Judgment is a virtue that comes from making poor decisions