1993 36 volt EZ GO – Low pack voltage and no go

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Longie

Hi guys, I haven't visited the forum in quite awhile.

Here’s the back ground. The cart was running fine when I accidentally drove over a huge root along the road (yes, I was sober ) and tore out the entire battery tray. I repaired the tray and put the batteries back in.

All batteries show 6.4 volts. The dash gauge shows full charge, but pack voltage with the multimeter only shows 32.1 volts, so naturally the cart doesn’t run. When plugging in the charger, pack voltage shows it’s putting out 40 volts, but the needle on the charger never goes down, so I’m guessing the charger isn’t sensing a full charge. When on charge, the voltage jumps on all individual batteries so it would seem they are receiving a charge. I’ve triple checked the battery wiring diagram and I’m confident the batteries are wired correctly.

My multimeter is good as I checked pack voltage on my other cart and it is normal.

Also. as soon as I turn the key on, the solenoid clicks. I don’t remember it doing that.

I’m stumped as to why I'm not getting full pack voltage.

You could have all the batteries hooked up but left a controller cable off. I would check everything again. I know for fact it can happen! I've done it a few times my self.

[mfinnegan]

something similar happened on my 1996.. racking my brain until i realized one of the batteries went bad and reversed polarity on itself, -6.4V. Absolutely no clue how or why it happened, never bothered to investigate... swapped out that battery and was good ever since.

[Longie]

Originally Posted by mfinnegan

something similar happened on my 1996.. racking my brain until i realized one of the batteries went bad and reversed polarity on itself, -6.4V. Absolutely no clue how or why it happened, never bothered to investigate... swapped out that battery and was good ever since.

That just crossed my mind this afternoon and before I saw your post. I'm going to check it tomorrow. Just a thought - if a battery would reverse polarity, could that battery then be connected on opposite terminals from normal?

[mfinnegan]

Originally Posted by Longie

Just a thought - if a battery would reverse polarity, could that battery then be connected on opposite terminals from normal?

You know, i never even thought to try that...sounds sketchy but i still have that battery, maybe i'll try it this weekend for sh*ts and giggles.

[Longie]

Originally Posted by mfinnegan

You know, i never even thought to try that...sounds sketchy but i still have that battery, maybe i'll try it this weekend for sh*ts and giggles.

I checked them. No reverse polarity. They are all +6.4.

But thanx for the suggestion.

[Cartmaster]

Originally Posted by mfinnegan

You know, i never even thought to try that...sounds sketchy but i still have that battery, maybe i'll try it this weekend for sh*ts and giggles.

If you drain it down with a load, you should be able to boost charge it to revert the polarity back to what it should be. I have done it in the past for people who accidentally connected them the wrong way round and been successful.

[mfinnegan]

Dang. Keep trying to get a photo of the batteries and cables. Even if you use a cell phone and email or text message it to me, I can upload it for you...


how the pack is missing an entire batteries worth of volts is really bothering me... if it was a bad cable and you took voltage from #1 positive and #6 negative it wouldn't give you any volts...

i'll research this and try some stuff on my cart.

[mfinnegan]

Originally Posted by Cartmaster

If you drain it down with a load, you should be able to boost charge it to revert the polarity back to what it should be. I have done it in the past for people who accidentally connected them the wrong way round and been successful.

i'll, give it a shot, can't hurt!

[Bama Brad]

Originally Posted by mfinnegan

Dang. Keep trying to get a photo of the batteries and cables. Even if you use a cell phone and email or text message it to me, I can upload it for you...


how the pack is missing an entire batteries worth of volts is really bothering me... if it was a bad cable and you took voltage from #1 positive and #6 negative it wouldn't give you any volts...

i'll research this and try some stuff on my cart.

Following this....very interested as to how this could be. Please keep us updated on progress. Has to be a reasonable explaination.

[Longie]

Finally, making some progress. Apparently, the throttle linkage rod got bent when I hit the root. It was bent enough to allow constant current to flow which is why the solenoid clicked when turning on the key. It also was not fully hitting the micro switch back by the pot/controller. Unhooking the throttle linkage and operating everything manually, the motor worked perfect. After unhooking the linkage, for whatever reason, I now have full pack voltage.

I quit for today, and will go back at it tomorrow to try and get the throttle linkage adjusted properly.

One of those dumb things but I think I got it!!!