1998 DS solenoid problem

wvfd1202 · 03-20-2012, 07:24 AM

I am at my wits end working on a 1998 DS 36 volt club car. I purchased the cart last year knowing it had not been run in several years. I installed new batteries and it ran fine for 8 months now. The other day it quit out of the blue so I looked it over to find the wire that had jumped the two large post's on the only solenoid had burned into. I replaced the wire with a piece i had lying around and it ran fine long enough for me to put it back in the shed. The next time i went to use it the car wouldn't, click or anything. I decided to charge up the batteries and replace the solenoid because it looked like it had gotten hot. The last part i put on was the same jumper wire when it arched and the cart moved. It moved without the accelerator pedal being depressed ! Is that normal or do I have a wiring problem that may have caused the wire to burn to start on ? Also if it matters this cart has the v glide instead of a solid state controller

scottyb · 03-20-2012, 10:01 AM

Okay, there are several problems brought to light by your post. First is a basic understanding of what cell batteries, you should always store them fully charged. And recharge a stored battery once a month.
Second, you should never run a car with the jumper on the solenoid. Period. The jumper is a crude test which basically bypasses the solenoid. It is not a definitive diagnostic test. If the bypass makes the cart run, one of two problems exist. Either the solenoid main contacts are bad or the solenoid activation circuit has failed.
Third, most likely, your accelerator pedal is not coming all the way back to zero. Check your linkage. If the cart has a V glide, open the the glide and check to see that the wiper arm is coming all the way back to the zero position.
Welcome to BGW, I hope this helps.

wvfd1202 · 03-20-2012, 10:20 AM

The jumper wire was on the solenoid when I got the cart. So i assume it was not supposed to be there at all ?
I have tried leaving the jumper off and and I cannot get the cart to do anything.

shadowman · 03-20-2012, 10:52 AM

are you sure that jumper wasn,t a resistor? it may have had a resistor and a diode on the solenoid........do you have a back of resistor coils behind the batteries?? if its a single solenoid cart can there are no resistor coils mounted behind batteries than there should be a controller on pass side rear upper area.........the resistor coils behind batteries will have a aluminum cover on top of them that runs across the cart they would be under that silver cover........figure that out 1st .................if you have to open v-glide you,ll need to take drivers side front battery out so you have enough room and to take a good look........if you find v-glide is ok i would then start with a new solenoid and also get the diode and resistor for it those 2 parts are gonna cost about 8 bucks.........that may be all thats wrong with it if someone jury rigged it to keep it running and if the cart would have a controller beleive me you want the diode and resistor on it they act as a bit of extra protection............................

wvfd1202 · 03-20-2012, 11:25 AM

yes it does have the resistor coils mounted in back. That wire may have been a resistor because there is a diode wire connecting the two small posts on the solenoid. I will check the v glide and go from there. Thanks I was on the verge of giving it the old smoke test ! lol

03-20-2012, 07:24 AM	#1
wvfd1202 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3	1998 DS solenoid problem I am at my wits end working on a 1998 DS 36 volt club car. I purchased the cart last year knowing it had not been run in several years. I installed new batteries and it ran fine for 8 months now. The other day it quit out of the blue so I looked it over to find the wire that had jumped the two large post's on the only solenoid had burned into. I replaced the wire with a piece i had lying around and it ran fine long enough for me to put it back in the shed. The next time i went to use it the car wouldn't, click or anything. I decided to charge up the batteries and replace the solenoid because it looked like it had gotten hot. The last part i put on was the same jumper wire when it arched and the cart moved. It moved without the accelerator pedal being depressed ! Is that normal or do I have a wiring problem that may have caused the wire to burn to start on ? Also if it matters this cart has the v glide instead of a solid state controller
wvfd1202 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3

03-20-2012, 10:01 AM	#2
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,418	Re: 1998 DS solenoid problem Okay, there are several problems brought to light by your post. First is a basic understanding of what cell batteries, you should always store them fully charged. And recharge a stored battery once a month. Second, you should never run a car with the jumper on the solenoid. Period. The jumper is a crude test which basically bypasses the solenoid. It is not a definitive diagnostic test. If the bypass makes the cart run, one of two problems exist. Either the solenoid main contacts are bad or the solenoid activation circuit has failed. Third, most likely, your accelerator pedal is not coming all the way back to zero. Check your linkage. If the cart has a V glide, open the the glide and check to see that the wiper arm is coming all the way back to the zero position. Welcome to BGW, I hope this helps.

03-20-2012, 10:20 AM	#3
wvfd1202 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3	Re: 1998 DS solenoid problem The jumper wire was on the solenoid when I got the cart. So i assume it was not supposed to be there at all ? I have tried leaving the jumper off and and I cannot get the cart to do anything.
wvfd1202 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3

03-20-2012, 10:52 AM	#4
shadowman The Last Moja Morani Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: jumping from cart to cart Posts: 8,975	Re: 1998 DS solenoid problem are you sure that jumper wasn,t a resistor? it may have had a resistor and a diode on the solenoid........do you have a back of resistor coils behind the batteries?? if its a single solenoid cart can there are no resistor coils mounted behind batteries than there should be a controller on pass side rear upper area.........the resistor coils behind batteries will have a aluminum cover on top of them that runs across the cart they would be under that silver cover........figure that out 1st .................if you have to open v-glide you,ll need to take drivers side front battery out so you have enough room and to take a good look........if you find v-glide is ok i would then start with a new solenoid and also get the diode and resistor for it those 2 parts are gonna cost about 8 bucks.........that may be all thats wrong with it if someone jury rigged it to keep it running and if the cart would have a controller beleive me you want the diode and resistor on it they act as a bit of extra protection............................

03-20-2012, 11:25 AM	#5
wvfd1202 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3	Re: 1998 DS solenoid problem yes it does have the resistor coils mounted in back. That wire may have been a resistor because there is a diode wire connecting the two small posts on the solenoid. I will check the v glide and go from there. Thanks I was on the verge of giving it the old smoke test ! lol
wvfd1202 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3

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