2000 36v Club Car DS: Reverse Only

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by GJCG

Thanks scottyb; I’ll check that out and let you know.
Golf cart guy; I don’t see the half speed micro on the schematic, where is the part located?

see post #9

[GJCG]

Sorry; I was typing while you were posting #9, I don’t see the half speed micro on the schematic as part of the system.

[scottyb]

Oh - you are asking about a resistor coil cart? disregard the 1/2 speed reverse question and answer post #5

[GJCG]

I was responding to post #8 and also post #9.
I don’t see the half speed micro switch on the schematic as part of the system; see schematic (post #12).
A visual inspection of the resistor coil shows no signs of heat damage or connection heat damage.
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Sergio]

When You combine the 3 symptoms given:

No Forward
Charger current reduced
Solenoid clicks

The issue is most likely with batteries 1, 2, 3 themselves or the cable connections between them.

The current only flows through those 3 batteries when the cart is in forward.

The reverse circuit only uses batteries 4, 5 and 6.

[GJCG]

The Batteries are getting close to five years old; I have never had a problem with run time. It just went from good to bad in a blink, I always assumed it would be a slow death with the Batteries. I also thought forward used the entire Battery bank? I’ll also test the Batteries perhaps one or more is shot and or internally shorted out.
Would the cart react this way if one Battery was just weak, or would it have to be dead?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Sergio]

I guess my use of the word "only" in both sentences was somewhat confusing.

In Forward, batteries 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 are used.

In Reverse, batteries 4,5 and 6 are used.

So current only flows through batteries 1,2 and 3 when in Forward.

When batteries get old, they develop a high internal resistance, which means while they may show close to the appropriate voltgage with no load, as soon as you place a load, they will prevent the entire series/pack from performing.

Clip your multimeter to each battery and measure the voltage while trying to drive the cart.

Here is a better diagram for your cart:

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/attac...36v_wiring.jpg

[GJCG]

Thanks for the diagram and clarifying that for me, I now understand the power flow that you described.
I’ll test as you prescribed and return the results; I feel a new set of Batteries may be needed.

[scottyb]

A series cart has reverse only.
I've never seen this caused by a bad battery.
We have seen this caused by a bad F&R switch.

To test the bad battery theory re-route the green cable from the bottom of the F&R from the middle of the battery pack to the other bottom F&R terminal.

Basically - making a loop from one bottom terminal to the other. This will provide the same power to both directions. If the batteries are the cause of the trouble - the cart will not run in either direction like this.

If the problem remains unchanged after battery test, swap cables as described in #5 and let us know if the problem reverse direction.
If yes = bad F&R or bad S1 or S2 cable.

[Golf cart guy]

Scratch what I said, thought you had a different model. I agree, check batteries