1998 Club Car Problem

[LostHusker]

You need to trace out the wires coming from your solenoid and from your key switch, without the solenoid clicking you are still not activating the circuit. Do a continuity test on those wires just to make sure, something is missing.

[j-boy]

with my volt meter connected to the small terminals I have no voltage even with the switch on and the pedal depressed. I have not jumped the small terminals but have jumped the large ones and the motor runs.

[j-boy]

LostHusker: the wiring diagram that I have shows a green wire running from the key switch to the solenoid. is that the one that you are talking about?

[LostHusker]

You need to check the wires, voltage is not the concern at the moment, check for continuity first, if a wire is broken somewhere then voltage will not happen.

[j-boy]

ok the green wire from the key switch to the solenoid and the blue wire from the key switch to the micro switch on the potentiometer both checked good. with all of the wires disconnected from the key switch I do not read continuity across the switch in either the on or the off position. does that mean that i have a bad switch?

[scottyb]

Maybe... you should have continuity between the 2 key switch terminals when the key is on and none when it is in the off position ~ Never jumper the 2 SMALL solenoid terminals ... you will melt something.

[j-boy]

thanks scottyb. I didn't jump the small terminals. guess I will replace the key switch next. I have no continuity across it ever. I am determined to figure this out.

[j-boy]

OK, I replaced the key switch. No luck. The wheels try to turn when the pedal is pressed but don't. Still no solenoid click and no voltage across the small terminals. I do get pack voltage across the large solenoid terminals when i press the pedal. Is that supposed to happen?

[j-boy]

could I have a bad resistor or diode?

[scottyb]

You failed to test the key switch correctly for continuity. I wonder if you are testing the solenoid correctly?
Put the black test lead on battery pack negative. Red test lead on the pack. Reading 36 volts+/-. Good Move red lead to battery side of the solenoid(big terminal) Same 36v? Good. with the key off check the other side of the solenoid (big terminal) Same 36v? That's bad. No voltage or 1.5v or less thats good. Now press the gas peddle (cart on & in gear) you should now have 36v at both sides of the solenoid. Release the gas peddle voltage should disappear on the far side big terminal.... = solenoid is working....