Troubles with our marathon

[radioman]

Originally Posted by Papajohn011964

Checked connections at the solenoid they looked good but I cleaned them anyways. The cart is running but still getting the 5.2 at idle and 0.00 when the pedal is pressed

Read my post #8 again. Measure the voltage with the negative voltmeter probe on the battery negative and the positive on the other points on the solenoid's big lugs when it won't go.. Not across the solenoid contacts but at each one referenced to battery negative. This is just the first simple step in eliminating any problem with the batteries, solenoid contacts or connection between the batteries and the solenoid. If you get battery pack voltage on both sides of the solenoid when the pedal is depressed and the cart don't move the problem is somewhere else. If you are measuring the voltage between the two big lugs on the solenoid what you are measuring may be normal operating condition measurement.

[jjance]

"Checked connections at the solenoid they looked good but I cleaned them anyways"

You cleaned the external connection but you can't clean the internal connections.

[yurtle]

I did, though not recommended.

[Papajohn011964]

Originally Posted by radioman

Read my post #8 again. Measure the voltage with the negative voltmeter probe on the battery negative and the positive on the other points on the solenoid's big lugs when it won't go.. Not across the solenoid contacts but at each one referenced to battery negative. This is just the first simple step in eliminating any problem with the batteries, solenoid contacts or connection between the batteries and the solenoid. If you get battery pack voltage on both sides of the solenoid when the pedal is depressed and the cart don't move the problem is somewhere else. If you are measuring the voltage between the two big lugs on the solenoid what you are measuring may be normal operating condition measurement.

Ahhhh gotcha I'll try that!

[Papajohn011964]

Originally Posted by yurtle

I did, though not recommended.

Wow yurtle I wish that you could have sent that pic to me then I could have had some fun with Jjance!

[radioman]

A complete model number posted here will help JohnnieB get you to the right diagram and more help checking deeper into golf cart innards. Keep voltmeter handy.

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by Papajohn011964

Checked connections at the solenoid they looked good but I cleaned them anyways. The cart is running but still getting the 5.2 at idle and 0.00 when the pedal is pressed

This is normal, if there is a 250 Ohm resistor connected between the two big terminals on the solenoid.

The resistor "Pre-Charges" the filter capacitors in the controller to reduce the inrush of amps the instant the solenoid contacts close. Reduces pitting.

Here is a schematic for a Marathon with a controller.

[Papajohn011964]

OK so the voltages from the battery to the solenoid are normal. I drove it around last night and quite a bit today no problems, until just now. Went for a drive and it quit again, doing the same thing. When the pedal is pushed it acts like it wants to go and I get a vibration that feels like it coming from around the motor (this is the belt slipping I mentioned) A gentleman walked up as I was working on it and suggested that I bypass the solenoid so I took one wire from one side and put it on the other side and get the same thing so I'm pretty sure it's not the solenoid. I am thinking that if it was the motor it wouldn't be so intermittent.

[Edarien]

Sound like the battery voltage drops enough for the motor to act up. That happened with my old set of batteries.
I put a new set in and I'm having no problems now. Plus I'm breaking them in by JohnnieB and Scottie's recommendations.


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[radioman]

Originally Posted by Papajohn011964

OK so the voltages from the battery to the solenoid are normal. I drove it around last night and quite a bit today no problems, until just now. Went for a drive and it quit again, doing the same thing. When the pedal is pushed it acts like it wants to go and I get a vibration that feels like it coming from around the motor (this is the belt slipping I mentioned) A gentleman walked up as I was working on it and suggested that I bypass the solenoid so I took one wire from one side and put it on the other side and get the same thing so I'm pretty sure it's not the solenoid. I am thinking that if it was the motor it wouldn't be so intermittent.

Did you check the battery + voltage while the slipping noise and vibration noise was present?? Just to be sure batteries or a connection are not intermittent. In your post number 1 you mentioned the voltage dropped form 38 to 15 volts. Using a jumper cable around the solenoid contacts was suggested by jjance in post #9. Solenoid appears not to be the problem. If battery voltage is ok JohnnieB sent you a diagram in post #17 for some more in depth troubleshooting to determine where the problem might be.