Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller

dryhmr · 03-01-2014, 03:33 PM

I have a 2006 Club Car Precedent. In August, I washed my batteries with a garden hose. When I tried to move the cart it was dead. Removed the cover over the electrical components and the ASM Precharge Resistor was hot. I unplugged the resistor. Took the car into a Club Car Authorized Repair shop and diagnosed a failed controller. They replaced the controller. Car did not seem as fast as before but seemed to work fine. They also said that washing the batteries should not have caused the problem. Batteries are 6 years old but testing revealed the batteries were at about 50% life. Stored my cart for winter. Checked each month. A lot of acid was under cart and a couple of cells were just at the top of the lead plates. Refilled.
You guessed it. Since the repair shop said no problem to wash the batteries with garden hose, lots of acid on batteries, I washed the batteries with the switch in tow mode and car would not move afterwards. Hot resistor and dead controller. Any ideas what is causing this expensive problem?

55BigBlock · 03-01-2014, 05:00 PM

I have always been leery of using a hose to wash batteries off. I know it is extra work, but I disconnect the batteries and take them out one at a time to clean them off. Just me, maybe I am just too cautious.

cgtech · 03-01-2014, 05:37 PM

I have never seen that before...I would suggest disconnecting a battery cable before washing.

tvj503 · 03-01-2014, 07:14 PM

To 55BigBlock.......love that Blue Devil!

jakesnake27 · 03-01-2014, 08:19 PM

I agree, I would not use a garden hose to wash off the batteries. When you do work with the batteries, always flip the Run/Tow switch to Tow and I would also disconnect the positive and negative mains.

sunoco · 03-01-2014, 09:37 PM

Wash acid on batteries off with a baking soda solution not just water. Also the IQ controllers will crap out if you spit on them. They are very susceptible to water damage

TahoeDawgZ71 · 03-03-2014, 03:33 PM

Exactly as Sunoco said.... you got the controller wet. You can submerge the batteries and the controller wouldn't care, but if you get one drop inside the 16-pin connector of the controller, it's over and done with. They are VERY water sensitive. That's why they have controller covers over them unlike the series cars.

scottyb · 03-03-2014, 04:53 PM

I was gonna say years ago we washed batteries off with a hose as part of the bi annual service and never fried one. We take minimal precautions like plastic bag over the control. But we would spay on the cleaner and hose it off. Dang Club Cars anyway

dryhmr · 03-05-2014, 10:27 PM

Is the other brands of speed controllers just as finicky? Is there a way to seal the 16 pin connector?

cgtech · 03-05-2014, 11:04 PM

Dielectric grease? Its non-conductive.

03-01-2014, 03:33 PM	#1
dryhmr Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller I have a 2006 Club Car Precedent. In August, I washed my batteries with a garden hose. When I tried to move the cart it was dead. Removed the cover over the electrical components and the ASM Precharge Resistor was hot. I unplugged the resistor. Took the car into a Club Car Authorized Repair shop and diagnosed a failed controller. They replaced the controller. Car did not seem as fast as before but seemed to work fine. They also said that washing the batteries should not have caused the problem. Batteries are 6 years old but testing revealed the batteries were at about 50% life. Stored my cart for winter. Checked each month. A lot of acid was under cart and a couple of cells were just at the top of the lead plates. Refilled. You guessed it. Since the repair shop said no problem to wash the batteries with garden hose, lots of acid on batteries, I washed the batteries with the switch in tow mode and car would not move afterwards. Hot resistor and dead controller. Any ideas what is causing this expensive problem?
dryhmr Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3

03-01-2014, 05:00 PM	#2
55BigBlock Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NC/SC Posts: 1,012	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller I have always been leery of using a hose to wash batteries off. I know it is extra work, but I disconnect the batteries and take them out one at a time to clean them off. Just me, maybe I am just too cautious.

03-01-2014, 05:37 PM	#3
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller I have never seen that before...I would suggest disconnecting a battery cable before washing.

03-01-2014, 07:14 PM	#4
tvj503 Getting Wild Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 82	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller To 55BigBlock.......love that Blue Devil!
tvj503 Getting Wild Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 82

03-01-2014, 08:19 PM	#5
jakesnake27 Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 14,245	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller I agree, I would not use a garden hose to wash off the batteries. When you do work with the batteries, always flip the Run/Tow switch to Tow and I would also disconnect the positive and negative mains.
jakesnake27 Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 14,245

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03-01-2014, 09:37 PM	#6
sunoco STEALTH 4X4 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: GA Posts: 2,125	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller Wash acid on batteries off with a baking soda solution not just water. Also the IQ controllers will crap out if you spit on them. They are very susceptible to water damage

03-03-2014, 03:33 PM	#7
TahoeDawgZ71 revolutiongolfcars.com Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Golf Car Capital of The World... Augusta, Georgia Posts: 10,224	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller Exactly as Sunoco said.... you got the controller wet. You can submerge the batteries and the controller wouldn't care, but if you get one drop inside the 16-pin connector of the controller, it's over and done with. They are VERY water sensitive. That's why they have controller covers over them unlike the series cars.

03-03-2014, 04:53 PM	#8
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,419	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller I was gonna say years ago we washed batteries off with a hose as part of the bi annual service and never fried one. We take minimal precautions like plastic bag over the control. But we would spay on the cleaner and hose it off. Dang Club Cars anyway

03-05-2014, 10:27 PM	#9
dryhmr Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller Is the other brands of speed controllers just as finicky? Is there a way to seal the 16 pin connector?
dryhmr Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3

03-05-2014, 11:04 PM	#10
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Washed Batteries equals Dead Controller Dielectric grease? Its non-conductive.

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