Volt gauge goes to red when floored

[OLDESTCOWBOY]

Good evening;
I have a problem with my 96 club car 48volts. The batteries are
1 & 1/2 years old. They are running 8.54 volts, the hydrometer reads an
average of between 1,275 & 1.300. When I charge overnite, the next morning I still show 7 amps on my charger and my dash volt guage pegs to the right.
The cart seems to perform o/k except now when pushing the pedal to the floor,
the volt gauge goes to the red and going uphill the guage goes to red. One more thing, when I lift the seat in the morning the batteries are warm and they smell like they are overcharged. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Bob

[Swan]

how is the water level should be a 1/4 to 1/2 above the plates . take a multi meter
across the pack after a full charge and a rest period and see what the voltage is.
Bar style battery meters are not the greatest , better off with a digital style meter,then you would know what your true voltage drop is .