GEM Golf Cart Loses Power Quickly

billbird2111

Sorry to start usless threads, but I need your help involving a 3-year GEM Model, two-seat golf car that contains six batteries. Two are in the front. Four are under the seat.

Father-in-law bought the golf cart last August, bought brand new batteries, stopped using it when the weather turned cold and promptly died from cancer in February.

Batteries were dead by the time we got to cleaning out the house. Water level had dropped. Zivian charger would not snap on. Someone tipped me to buy a battery charger and charge each battery individually. I also filled each battery to the top with distilled water. Used an entire gallon of the stuff.

About hit the roof when I heard that Zivian charger snap on after charging each battery individually. It worked. I have a digital readout on the center of the steering wheel that tells my my speed and percentage of charge. Above that is a light that tells you when the car is done charging (flashes red when the charge is at 80% or above, solid yellow at 90% or above and green when the charge hits 100%).

Here's my problem: The charge isn't holding. It will lose 20% of its power overnight if left to sit, 20% or more. I can drive this car, but not longer than ten minutes. The charge drops very quickly from 100% to 80% or even below that.

It seems to me that it should be holding a charge better than that.

The digital readout on the steering wheel does have a "tool" insignia with a red light above that if there's something wrong with the cart. But it's not snapping on. I think it would tell me if I had a dead battery or not, but who knows?

Which is why I turn to you in a long-winded plea for help.

Help?

I am a real NOOB when it comes to tools for these things. The only thing I have is a battery charger. I do not have a tool for testing whether a battery is good or not, nor aware of something like that exists (it probably does, I just don't know what it is).

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

scottyb

I know you'll hate hearing this but, you need new batteries.

billbird2111

How many? All of them?

Is it because they were essentially allowed to die? And once a battery dies -- that's it?

billbird2111

Is there any way to tell what batteries might be good, and which are bad? I hear your advice Scotty, but you're talking about a $1200 investment here.

arcitech

Scotty is right, new batteries are in your future. At 3+years old and possibly neglected, the batteries are probably all bad. If you want to keep the cart and don't mind the expense, new batteries will give you a cart, and any cart will need batteries after a few years of use (or neglect), so you never really get anything for free. You could isolate and check each battery individually, but I doubt that it is just 1 or 2 batteries, it is not worth the hassle that will follow if you only replace a couple at a time.

If you are a Sam's Club member, or good at shopping around, you may find batteries for much less than 1200.00. Keep looking.

Some tools that I use a lot: Multi-meter (Volts and Resistance), Ratchet and socket set, Screw driver set, pop rivets and riveter, vise-grip (small and med), 3paks of cheap toothbrushes, Distilled Water, baking soda and finally Yuengling beer.

Read some of the "Sticky's" in the Club Car/EZ-GO/Yamaha forums and you'll find LOTS of good info.

Good Luck and WELCOME!!

billbird2111

I love the response, and thank you. The batteries in question here are less than a year old.

Now, from reading previous posts, I do understand that even batteries that are less than a year old can be ruined if you allow them to completely die down. And I'm almost positive that's what happened here. The batteries were not charged once since the father-in-law passed last February.

I heard the term "load test" in determining whether a battery is good or not. Care to enlighten me a tad?

scottyb

The gem has a sealed battery which is expensive. I have seen them die in 12 months, neglected. You should be able to charge them up and then load test them.
You can have this done by a shop or as simply as connecting a DVM to one battery and going for a ride ~ preferably a short uphill ride. Note the lowest voltage dip and move clips to the next battery...... you may bet lucky and find a couple of bad ones? Replace them with used batteries if you can.

billbird2111

Thanks Scotty. I believe I will try the load test and see what happens. Appreciate everyone's help.

arcitech

BillBird,
Are you planning on keeping the cart or selling? Even if you have to spend 1200.00 for batteries, you will have a cart that works for less than a lot of used carts. Resale value can be more than your investment, but maybe not as much net profit as if you just sold it as is. If you want to keep it, start saving and buy your batteries all at once.

Scotty, I'm not familiar with the GEM models except for seeing them on the Navy bases with flat tires and not used...(seeing a trend here). I would expect that a different style of maintainable battery conversion probably won't be a cost effective solution.

billbird2111

arctech,

I've been told, by "people in the know," that GEM golf carts have a terrible reputation and aren't worth that much when it comes to resale.

The intent was to sell the vehicle -- for as much as I could get for it mind you.

You see -- the father-in-law who bought the thing, put in new batteries, then passed from cancer -- lived in a retirement park where you have to be 55 + to live. I'm old, but I'm not that old. I'm nearly a decade away from hitting that 55 mark. I might now own two homes in that gated development, but I can't live in either one of them. Since property values are depressed, they are rentals from here on out.

I had hoped to sell the cart for 8K, but I'm told I'll be lucky to get even half that amount for it, even if it is in perfect working order. Since I can't use it (I live in the suburbs), it's destined for sale.

Someone in the development where my father-in-law lived, before he passed, will most certainly buy the thing. There is only a putting green in this development, but golf carts are still the rage. It's stylish transportation to the clubhouse gym, restaurant and BAR (love that bar).

I could sell this thing for 2K and be done with it. But I'm hardheaded I suppose. I want "Grampa's mini car" in perfect working order before I let it go...

Which is why I signed up for this forum. You've all been a great help by the way. Thank you very much...