02 TXT Barely Moves

[Kennethbigboss]

Okay guys I’m new to this forum and will try to get right to the point! The cart is a 36v ezgo 2002 txt, ran beautifully for my in-laws, who I got it for so they can tool around the neighborhood. Anyways, the cart just all of a sudden just stopped going! It will try to go forward and reverse but it shutters and barely moves. Also, there’s a grinding like noise coming from underneath it. The batteries were a little low on water, which I added to them and always kept it plugged up everyday. It has a battery meter on it as well and shows that they’re full. The other day I lifted the rear tires off the ground placed them on jack stands and pushed the accelerator down and the tires took off! In both forward and reverse, no grinding noise whatsoever, now I’m really confused? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Semper Fi!
Gunny

[orangeman6]

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...en-system.html

Hey Gunny, use the link above to tell which drive type the cart is.

Also, do you have a dmm? I know you said the charge meter says the batteries are full, but a no go problem is a potential battery issue, so it’s best to start with verifying that they are good. Batteries can show fully charged but not have enough in them to make the cart go. 12-24 hours after they come off the charger will get you an accurate reading. The total pack voltage along with the voltage of each battery is needed. Then do the same thing while trying to drive the cart.

Also check that you don’t have any corroded or loose cables.

Maybe the grinding noise is actually your problem. I don’t know enough to give you good ideas about what to check for that, but I could see something being an issue only when there’s a load on the system. Either way, the battery check is still useful.

[Cobra,1]

You mention shutter and grinding noise from underneath.
Does grinding noise continue as long as go pedal is held down?
Possible stripped brake drum spline 🤔

Above mentioned voltage checks will help where to look next.

[Imapled]

Originally Posted by Kennethbigboss

...the cart just all of a sudden just stopped going! It will try to go forward and reverse but it shutters and barely moves.

Could be a lot of issues:

1. The spline from the motor to the differential could be stripped.
2. The bearings could be gone.
3. Hubs could be stripped.
4. Guts of the differential could be stripped.
5. The motor bearing could be toast.
6. Anything else not included in this list...

Originally Posted by Kennethbigboss

Also, there’s a grinding like noise coming from underneath it.

Grinding generally means a mechanical issue. Hopefully, it is not #1. Does the motor sound like it is spinning freely but, not driving the wheels?

Originally Posted by Kennethbigboss

The other day I lifted the rear tires off the ground placed them on jack stands and pushed the accelerator down and the tires took off! In both forward and reverse, no grinding noise whatsoever...

Sounds like a stripped hub possibly. If you switch from R to F (or F to R) too fast you can strip them. The axle is much stronger material than the hubs they go into. Or of you are rolling in a direction and have the cart set to the opposite and gun it. The hubs could strip easily.

Just based on the age of the cart I wouldn't be surprised if it is the wheel bearings. I just had to deal with this on an axle. Just finished doing the thing tonight. Bad bearings grind and locked up one of the axles so only one wheel was spinning. All fixed now.

When no presure is applied to the wheels they often spin fine with bad bearings. Also, no resistance on the wheels means a stripped hub may catch with whatever it has left and spin the tires.

Grinding noise coming from the differential or the wheels? Hopefully, it is not from the motor or the differential. Your cart's differential oil probably has not been done in a while. If the differential was empty and you were driving it around you could have messed up the gears. Hard to say though.

Cheers,
Impaled

[Kennethbigboss]

WOW, got my homework assignment guys! Can’t thank you enough for all the info! I will make sure to post what the problem was, again, many thanks!
Semper Fi
Gunny

[Kennethbigboss]

Okay guys, Gunny followed orders as you commanded! And I’m happy to say, PROBLEM SOLVED! I want to personally thank you each of you guys that took time to reply to cry for help! Turns out I had one bad battery causing all the headaches. Took it to one shop in Lawrenceville, Ga who was going to charge me almost $1000 for all new batteries, when they knew it was only one bad battery! Mind you, this was before I knew what the issue even was. They just said let’s slap a new set in it, probably bad anyway and we’ll go from there. Again, many many thanks guys!
God Bless and Semper Fi

Gunny
USMC

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by Kennethbigboss

Okay guys, Gunny followed orders as you commanded! And I’m happy to say, PROBLEM SOLVED! I want to personally thank you each of you guys that took time to reply to cry for help! Turns out I had one bad battery causing all the headaches. Took it to one shop in Lawrenceville, Ga who was going to charge me almost $1000 for all new batteries, when they knew it was only one bad battery! Mind you, this was before I knew what the issue even was. They just said let’s slap a new set in it, probably bad anyway and we’ll go from there. Again, many many thanks guys!
God Bless and Semper Fi

Gunny
USMC

Awesome - I was just gonna post that. Many years ago I had this problem. I tore the axles out, the motor out, the drive shaft coupler out.....Nothing Before somebody told me what to look for.

[Cobra,1]

Great you got it running again.
wondering as to how grinding noise was related to the bad battery.
Fact that neglected batteries pointed to a battery problem which you resolved. What was cause of grinding noise?
Thanks ��

[scottyb]

Solenoid chatters ( in and out) so darn fast it sounds like a grinding noise.

[Cobra,1]

Makes sense
Thanks Scotty 👍