ezgo pds f/r rocker switch activating solenoid

[jmcguire85]

Hello, I have a 2000 ezgo pds 36 volt cart i picked up recently. It had a bad solenoid and the previous owner had main battery pack cables backwards. I picked it up and in a hurry went up to local autoparts store and picked up a 12 volt solenoid and put it on. It was the type that grounds on the body so i ran the blue wire and mounted it behind the solenoid mount on the mounting stud. It worked and lasted a whole 15 minutes and melted down. It ran a solid 12 mph then because i gps'd it. I since put the correct solenoid on it but problem now is instead of solenoid clicking when i step on the throttle it clicks with the rocker switch on the dash. Also the cart will not go over 5 mph. batteries are only a year old and fully charge at almost 40 volts. Did i burn up my controller? any help would greatly be appreciated.

[scottyb]

The sepex drive carts like this are not real forgiving and they don't like experimentation. The cart will run 5mph if it senses the solenoid is welded shut.

Try cycling the run/tow switch (you should have switched to tow before any work on this cart)

[jmcguire85]

Thanks for advice. I actually unhooked the tow mode from the controller which I thought would be the same. I tried the tow/run cycling with no luck. I have unplugged the potentiometer from the controller thinking that had something to do with the fact that when I put it into forward or reverse the sol. clicks but it still does. That's what has me leaning to the controller itself.

[jmcguire85]

Is there a chance it's the new solenoid? I have run a bypass wire from the two large posts on the solenoid to each other and nothing changes.

[smokey tennis shoe]

However many solenoids you have installed here, do you currently have a 36 volt one on there?

[jmcguire85]

Yes. Side from battery positive is like 39.2 and the other side is like 37.8.

[jmcguire85]

I thought you meant 36 volts but yes I went to the local cart place and pod like $70 for a 36 volt continuous.

[scottyb]

Open the pedal box and replace the broken micro switch there.

[jmcguire85]

If it was that would the sol. Still click when I unhook the wires going into the controller from that? Also if there was broken micro switches shouldn't I have a dead spot on the throttle? It still gradually gives power from little throttle to full throttle, just full throttle is 5 mph

[scottyb]

I suspect the micro switch trigger is bent in a manner that keeps the circuit closed. You may have other signal problems. But you have to check this out.
If you don't want to open the box then remove plug J4 and check for continuity between pin 1&2. The continuity there should make and break with the go pedal action.