Golf Cart Newbie - Solenoid Clicks but won't go

[GODsRebel]

Hey yall...I'm a newbie to electric golf carts. I have an older Yamaha, not sure what type, 36V with brand new Trojan batteries. The cart is lifted w/ 20" mud wolfs. The cart has been running great until my wife used it to grade one of our horse paddocks last night. She told me she smelled burning and I noticed that both black wires were melted at the F/R terminal. I cleaned and replaced terminals at fresh copper in the wires. The bolt gasket at the F/R switch was kinda melted too. After freshening the wires, the solenoid clicks but the cart won't move. I noticed that the small black wire was not connected to anything which can't be good but I never consciously noticed it connected to anything. I tried to check as much connections as I could but it was hard for me to check all the connections to the controller. The wires seem like a bird nest to me...lol
Is it a possibility that the solenoid is bad. I take it there was short somewhere in the higher voltage circuit that caused the wire melting. Pardon my naivety.

[Dave in VA]

Welcome.

Figure out what cart you have...http://www.cunninghamgolfcar.com/t-identify-yamaha.aspx

Go here for wiring diagrams...http://www.cunninghamgolfcar.com/t-identify-yamaha.aspx

[cgtech]

Sounds like you have a G16e with its crummy F&R (forward & reverse switch). F&R is prob ruined inside also. that f&r cant be rebuilt, a good option is "ScottyB's" reversing contactor setup. You could just buy another stock f&r too.

[GODsRebel]

Originally Posted by cgtech

Sounds like you have a G16e with its crummy F&R (forward & reverse switch). F&R is prob ruined inside also. that f&r cant be rebuilt, a good option is "ScottyB's" reversing contactor setup. You could just buy another stock f&r too.

Thanks for input guys. You're right cg....I talked to Scotty & he said I more than likely cooked the F/R switch which needs upgrade w/ the other upgrades I have. He said I'm better off getting the reverse contactor & getting w/ someone on this board that has done it.