Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working

thedeathstar88 · 05-17-2018, 08:12 PM

Hey all,
I am new to the golf cart world and am experiencing something weird going on with the 1988 Club Car 36V that I just bought last weekend.

Bought the cart last Saturday from a neighbor and rode it around all day without any problem. Charged it fully after buying it and then once I tried to switch it from forward to reverse, something underneath the cart sparked (which isn't good). I pushed the cart out of my garage and did a little trial run to find out if it still worked. It ran just fine in forward and reverse so I wasn't concerned.

My brother went to use it yesterday and told me that reverse wouldn't work and I can only attribute that to the spark. (I also don't have any pictures because the cart is at my summer cabin but I can get some in around a week when I go back).

Anyone have any suggestions? By the way, I'm not overly familiar with electrical systems (more of a combustion engine guy) so if you could put responses into simple terms, it would be much appreciated!

NoleFan4Ever · 05-17-2018, 08:23 PM

First thought is the reverse side of the FNR switch shorted. You will have to inspect it and see.

NoleFan4Ever · 05-17-2018, 08:28 PM

Here is a drawing for that year and should be it. Unless it is a controller cart.

thedeathstar88 · 05-17-2018, 08:29 PM

I read a little about that. How would I check to see if it did?

thedeathstar88 · 05-17-2018, 08:30 PM

My forward/reverse switch is behind my legs

NoleFan4Ever · 05-17-2018, 08:32 PM

The first thing is lift the seat and visually inspect it from the back side. See if you burnt anything up or melted off any terminals. You may have to remove it to inspect it completely. Not a hard job, just disconnect the pack main negative before you work on it and take a picture with your phone to help you remember cable/wire orientations.

thedeathstar88 · 05-17-2018, 08:36 PM

Got it! Thank you. I'll post again when I find something out.

NoleFan4Ever · 05-17-2018, 08:43 PM

Take a DVM (Digital Volt Meter) and a copy of that drawing with you. Continuity and voltage checks are a wonderful thing when troubleshooting.

05-17-2018, 08:12 PM	#1
thedeathstar88 Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: Washington Posts: 4	Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working Hey all, I am new to the golf cart world and am experiencing something weird going on with the 1988 Club Car 36V that I just bought last weekend. Bought the cart last Saturday from a neighbor and rode it around all day without any problem. Charged it fully after buying it and then once I tried to switch it from forward to reverse, something underneath the cart sparked (which isn't good). I pushed the cart out of my garage and did a little trial run to find out if it still worked. It ran just fine in forward and reverse so I wasn't concerned. My brother went to use it yesterday and told me that reverse wouldn't work and I can only attribute that to the spark. (I also don't have any pictures because the cart is at my summer cabin but I can get some in around a week when I go back). Anyone have any suggestions? By the way, I'm not overly familiar with electrical systems (more of a combustion engine guy) so if you could put responses into simple terms, it would be much appreciated!

05-17-2018, 08:23 PM	#2
NoleFan4Ever MOD of all BS! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 17,477	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working First thought is the reverse side of the FNR switch shorted. You will have to inspect it and see.

05-17-2018, 08:28 PM	#3
NoleFan4Ever MOD of all BS! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 17,477	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working Here is a drawing for that year and should be it. Unless it is a controller cart.

05-17-2018, 08:29 PM	#4
thedeathstar88 Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: Washington Posts: 4	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working I read a little about that. How would I check to see if it did?

05-17-2018, 08:30 PM	#5
thedeathstar88 Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: Washington Posts: 4	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working My forward/reverse switch is behind my legs

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05-17-2018, 08:32 PM	#6
NoleFan4Ever MOD of all BS! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 17,477	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working The first thing is lift the seat and visually inspect it from the back side. See if you burnt anything up or melted off any terminals. You may have to remove it to inspect it completely. Not a hard job, just disconnect the pack main negative before you work on it and take a picture with your phone to help you remember cable/wire orientations.

05-17-2018, 08:36 PM	#7
thedeathstar88 Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: Washington Posts: 4	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working Got it! Thank you. I'll post again when I find something out.

05-17-2018, 08:43 PM	#8
NoleFan4Ever MOD of all BS! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 17,477	Re: Club Car Sparked and Reverse Stopped Working Take a DVM (Digital Volt Meter) and a copy of that drawing with you. Continuity and voltage checks are a wonderful thing when troubleshooting.

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