1980 Club Car quit moving

[corycartman]

I have a 1980 club car that just quit running. It has brand new batteries with cables and has ran great for a couple weeks until yesterday. It wouldn't move I figured maybe the batteries were dead so I charged it last night and still got nothing today. I believe the batteries are charged as long as I did my voltage test correctly. I can here solenoids clicking when I hit the gas peddle but I only hear 4 clicks and there are 5 solenoids not sure if this is right or not. I tried jumping the master solenoid with a screwdriver and got nothing mind you I didn't jack the back wheels up but I don't think that would make a difference. I then switched the master solenoid with the one beside it and I still got nothing. I don't know what to do this is frustrating. Any help would be so greatly appreciated.

[scottyb]

Jack one or two wheels up off the floor for safety. These carts can start suddenly and do some serious damage while testing if precautions are not taken.

The solenoid on the drivers side is the master. It must click to supply power to the 4 speed solenoids. Sounds like you may need a new solenoid there, if all five of the micro switches (ms) in the little box at the gas peddle linkage are clicking and working.

In this system these is a ms for each solenoid. Both the ms and solenoids are suspect until you can verify they work. You will need a voltmeter to test.
What is the battery pack voltage?

[corycartman]

I did replace the master solenoid with the one directly beside it do you think this would still be suspect? The pack voltage reads around 50v which seems weird being a 36 volt cart but I think my volt meter reads high. How do I know If the solenoids by the gas pedal linkage are working? From what I can tell is I get power at all 5 solenoids large posts when the gas pedal is pressed so I figured everything up to that point would be good but I'm most likely wrong I don't know a whole lot about electric carts

[scottyb]

Your meter needs a fresh battery.
Then recheck the pack
The 5 micro switches (ms) in the peddle box trigger the solenoids, the solenoids pass current to the motor.
You need all 5 solenoids to click. IF all 5 click and the cart won't go, then check
all cable connections
F&R switch does not pass current
Solenoid clicks but does not pass current

[corycartman]

Ok can you explain how to test all of this like I said I'm pretty green at this. I'm not even sure where to locate these micro switches. If I have power at all 5 solenoids when the pedal is pressed is it safe to say the micro switches are all working? Thanks sorry for all the questions

[corycartman]

I tested the solenoids large posts with a test light and they all have power with the pedal pressed

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by corycartman

I tested the solenoids large posts with a test light and they all have power with the pedal pressed

are all 5 solenoids clicking in linear succession as you press the gas?
You will need a good meter to proceed.

[corycartman]

When I hit the gas pedal and hear the first click all 4 large posts on the master solenoid and first gear solenoid light up. Then as I press the pedal a little further until the next click then the 2nd gear solenoids big posts light up and so on until I get to the last solenoid.

[scottyb]

F&R not passing the current then?


You need a voltmeter

[corycartman]

I have a different volt meter now how do I test the f/r switch?