90's EZGO Marathon NO GO

[rpalaniz]

I have a 90's marathon XT 500 that does not move ether forward or reverse. The batteries are good and we double checked the wiring. The solenoid clicks in forward and in reverse. DON'T know what that solenoid is supposed to do because it has 36v on one side and 32v on the other side?? How do I eliminate the controller as the problem? Thanks for the help.

[JohnnieB]

Batteries are not charged. 36V is less than 50% SoC.

If you have 36V on the solenoid's battery side large terminal and 32V on the controller side large terminal after the solenoid clicks, the contacts are not closing.

[rpalaniz]

So does that mean the solinoid is no good. How does the solinoid work in this system?

[JohnnieB]

After the solenoid energizes, both large terminal should have the same voltage on them, or the contacts aren't making good contact.

When the solenoid is de-energized, you read a few volts less on the controller side than the battery side due to the 250 Ohm resistor connected across the two large terminals.

The purpose of that resistor is to keep the filter capacitors in the controller charged so that the solenoid's contacts don't arc as much when they close, extending their useful lifespan.

The purpose of the solenoid is to connect and disconnect the battery from the controller/motor.

Three set of switch contacts have to be closed to energize the solenoid.
The solenoid activation circuit is highlighted on the attached schematic.

[rpalaniz]

Thanks for the help. Replaced the forward/reverse switch and its alive!! Thanks Johnnie B Great.

[JohnnieB]

Glad to hear you got it going.