Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives!

outbackrob · 06-24-2018, 11:59 PM

Very low mileage, garage kept 1986 DS. Converted from negative key switch to positive key switch. Added a voltage reducer to better manage batteries. Everything seems to be working perfectly. My wife and I drove round the neighborhood for about 30 minutes doing about 11-13mph almost the whole time. Fun Fun Fun! Then I stopped at a stop sign. Hit the accelerator and....nothing. I could hear the clicks, but got no movement. Of course we got out and stared at the battery compartment like we were expecting it to say something. About 3 minutes later I turned the key, pressed the pedal and we were off to the races again. Let off the accelerator and hit it again, nothing. After another 20 minutes of testing, we THINK that it could be heat related? Nothing was too hot to touch and there was no smoke or smell of "heat". Found that if I never let all the way off the pedal, it keeps going. Let off the pedal to hit the brake (or not hit the brake) and it dies for a few moments. A couple of times when it first dies, I hit the pedal a bunch of times and it pops back to life with a BIG burst of speed.

I have all the wires tightened down to manufacturers specs. 5 of six batteries are a year old, 1 is a week old. Electricity does not seem to be a problem as the new battery meter reads full and the 12v side is showing 12.2 volts. Got plenty of juice.

Heat? But what exactly is the heat affecting?

Accelerator switch? But it works most of the time.

Gremlin? My bet!

I'm pretty new to Golf Carts. Perhaps this is a well know problem with a simple fix? It is the first time we have noticed this issue in the 3 months we have had it. I am hoping to have it running consistently for out 4th of July Parade..... I'm going to be in front of the horses so it just can't stop.

Any ideas? Things to check?

THANKS!

Rob

outbackrob · 06-25-2018, 11:17 AM

Solenoid?

FNR switch?

Not the MCOR because the 1986 doesn't have one?

Sergio · 06-25-2018, 03:06 PM

This is the 5 solenoid setup right?

Check the main solenoid, that is the first one on the drivers side with no resistor coils on top of it.

outbackrob · 06-25-2018, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio

This is the 5 solenoid setup right?

Yes. 5 new solenoids about a year and a half ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio

Check the main solenoid, that is the first one on the drivers side with no resistor coils on top of it.

I'm a bit dense and a noob at this yet. How do I check it? Everything is tight and it is getting power. ...or seems to be getting power. I measured 38.4 volts on it.

Rob

Lochlin · 06-26-2018, 07:26 AM

Throw a large gauge jumper between the large terminals on the main solenoid. What that is going to do is to keep your high current circuit active at all times in that your key switch and initial accelerator switch will be bypassed. If you cart runs as it should then that jumped solenoid is bad. Obviously, you don't want to keep that solenoid jumped.

Sergio · 06-26-2018, 07:49 AM

You can also just move the cable on that Solenoid that goes to the motor to the other post on the Solenoid (where the copper bar is connected).

outbackrob · 06-26-2018, 11:23 AM

Got it. THANK YOU! I will try that this evening.

Rob

06-24-2018, 11:59 PM	#1
outbackrob Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 60	Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives! Very low mileage, garage kept 1986 DS. Converted from negative key switch to positive key switch. Added a voltage reducer to better manage batteries. Everything seems to be working perfectly. My wife and I drove round the neighborhood for about 30 minutes doing about 11-13mph almost the whole time. Fun Fun Fun! Then I stopped at a stop sign. Hit the accelerator and....nothing. I could hear the clicks, but got no movement. Of course we got out and stared at the battery compartment like we were expecting it to say something. About 3 minutes later I turned the key, pressed the pedal and we were off to the races again. Let off the accelerator and hit it again, nothing. After another 20 minutes of testing, we THINK that it could be heat related? Nothing was too hot to touch and there was no smoke or smell of "heat". Found that if I never let all the way off the pedal, it keeps going. Let off the pedal to hit the brake (or not hit the brake) and it dies for a few moments. A couple of times when it first dies, I hit the pedal a bunch of times and it pops back to life with a BIG burst of speed. I have all the wires tightened down to manufacturers specs. 5 of six batteries are a year old, 1 is a week old. Electricity does not seem to be a problem as the new battery meter reads full and the 12v side is showing 12.2 volts. Got plenty of juice. Heat? But what exactly is the heat affecting? Accelerator switch? But it works most of the time. Gremlin? My bet! I'm pretty new to Golf Carts. Perhaps this is a well know problem with a simple fix? It is the first time we have noticed this issue in the 3 months we have had it. I am hoping to have it running consistently for out 4th of July Parade..... I'm going to be in front of the horses so it just can't stop. Any ideas? Things to check? THANKS! Rob

06-25-2018, 11:17 AM	#2
outbackrob Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 60	Re: Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives! Solenoid? FNR switch? Not the MCOR because the 1986 doesn't have one?

06-25-2018, 03:06 PM	#3
Sergio Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 9,329	Re: Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives! This is the 5 solenoid setup right? Check the main solenoid, that is the first one on the drivers side with no resistor coils on top of it.

06-26-2018, 07:26 AM	#5
Lochlin Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,946	Re: Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives! Throw a large gauge jumper between the large terminals on the main solenoid. What that is going to do is to keep your high current circuit active at all times in that your key switch and initial accelerator switch will be bypassed. If you cart runs as it should then that jumped solenoid is bad. Obviously, you don't want to keep that solenoid jumped.

06-26-2018, 07:49 AM	#6
Sergio Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 9,329	Re: Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives! You can also just move the cable on that Solenoid that goes to the motor to the other post on the Solenoid (where the copper bar is connected).

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06-26-2018, 11:23 AM	#7
outbackrob Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2018 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 60	Re: Just dies, then lives! ...then dies, then lives! Got it. THANK YOU! I will try that this evening. Rob

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