Precedent electric battery drains in 2 DAYS!

[smokey tennis shoe]

Have a 09 precedent, original owner. six 8 volt batteries.

This cart is all original from factory. It came with headlite and tail lite, and has no other accessories.

The dealer DID install a different key switch before I took it, so I would have a unique key. Also, supposedly the dealer put in a high speed motor, ( but for all I know, could have just installed code 4).

Anyway, since the day I got, the batteries will drain in 2 days, WITHOUT driving it at all. The charger will charge the batteries up, and whether I drive the cart or not, the batteries will drain down to almost nothing.

Now remember this has been going on since new. The club car dealer here in the desert, has never stood by this cart. I even wrote a letter to club car about ths, and never got any response. I just want the cart to stop draining the batteries.

2 months ago, had all new Trojan 8 volt batteries installed. Even with the new Trojans, I still have the same draining problem.

I never turn the lites on, and there are no other accessories of any kind on the cart.

Also the Club car dealer is having money issues, and just recently got rid of most employees, and are downsizing and being bought by the same money guy that owns the ezgo dealership here. That's a crappy sitch. Anyway, can someone give me some advice as to where to look to solve this issue?

Since I have new batteries, and it charges, and no accessories?
Thanks

[nobogez42]

I would start by charging it up and turn the tow/run switch to the tow position and see if it still drains.

Also, can you post a pic of the batteries and cables?

[joesam]

Park and turn off the cart - disconnect the negative cable from the end of battery pack and insert a multimeter (set on DC Amps) between the negative battery post and the cable that you just removed. It will tell you if, and how big, the parasitic current drain is - which should help to troubleshoot the likely culprit.

[scottginfla]

This may not be of any help, but it could be the DC reducer pulling the pack down, disconnect it and see what happens, caint hurt to eliminate it as the culprit.

[gornoman]

Originally Posted by joesam

Park and turn off the cart - disconnect the negative cable from the end of battery pack and insert a multimeter (set on DC Amps) between the negative battery post and the cable that you just removed. It will tell you if, and how big, the parasitic current drain is - which should help to troubleshoot the likely culprit.

This test MAY, I repeat MAY, be destructive to a typical home use multimeter, only because if he is loosing the whole pack in 2 days the amp draw will be considerable and $25 meters could fold (smoke) under that load. Every multimeter has a capacity range and a fuse (hopefully). Exceeding the range by measuring an "unknown" parameter could destroy it. A DC clamp-on amp meter would be a much safer direction as they will have much higher ratings better suited to the problem presented.

It's fairly obvious there is a major component staying energized. I would look for heat.

[jjance]

How does it ride when you first take it off the charger with a full charge. Anything usual. Does everything work like it should? Is there a reason you don't turn the lights on?

[joesam]

I guess its possible to overload a multimeter this way. Mine can measure 20 amps safely. If the draw is higher than that, I suppose you could just dim the lights and watch for whatever is glowing red!

In retrospect, disconnecting the negative may be risky, because if there is a big draw, the spark of disconnecting/re-connecting could be risky near the batteries.

[mrgolf]

If you do disconnect the neg battery cable be SURE to put the cart in Tow first.

[smokey tennis shoe]

I am gone for the weekend, but will be back on Monday. I will then take some pcs and post them.

So I will charge the batteries first, then will right down the voltage. Then will let it sit for a day and take voltage readings again. Then let sit another day, and will take readings again.

Then will charge again, then turn the tow switch to off, and let sit for a day and take reading, then let sit another day and take another reading?

I don't understand , if the tow switch is bad, how a switch can drain a battery! A switch does not pull any juice or does not pull a load by itself?

[gornoman]

Originally Posted by smokey tennis shoe

I don't understand , if the tow switch is bad, how a switch can drain a battery! A switch does not pull any juice or does not pull a load by itself?

The switch itself does not draw a load, it only ALLOWS a load to be drawn. The intent here is to determine whether the Run/Tow switch allows a load to be drawn when the cart is idle. It shouldn't, but it may establish a direction to follow. If there is no difference, we look elsewhere. Just do these tests one-at-a-time please so we can find the culprit.