How to Get the Most Out of Your Golf Cart
- by Bryan Veldboom - updated on 7/22/2021
Summer is a great season for golfers. Between the warm weather and sunshine, there's no better time to get out on the course. If you have your own golf cart, it's important that you keep up on regular maintenance tasks, especially during the busy season. Follow this checklist to help keep your cart maintained, so you can enjoy it for years to come.
How To Maintain Your Battery
Golf cart batteries can last as long as four to six years, but that's only if you take care of them properly. To get the most life out of your battery follow the steps below.
- Get the right battery charger - Determine whether your cart uses 6-, 8- or 12-volt batteries and find a charger that's compatible with that system.
- Charge your battery regularly - Recharge your battery every time it drops to 50% capacity.
- Avoid overcharging - Monitor the charging process or get an automatic charger that will shut off automatically.
- Water your battery - If you have a flooded battery, top off the electrolyte inside with distilled water, so that the liquid reaches 1/4 inch above the top of the plates. If you have an AGM battery, you don't need to do this.
Additional Golf Cart Maintenance and Golf Cart Safety Tips
- Have your brake shoes, cables and fluid checked about twice a year.
- Keep your terminals clean - Clean off any corrosion with a mixture of baking soda and water and apply an anti-corrosion spray.
- Replace burned-out brake and headlight bulbs - Golf carts use the same bulb types as cars. Be sure to replace them in pairs so one light doesn't appear weaker than the other.
- Replace blown fuses - If you're having electrical issues, try swapping out the fuse. Learn how to locate and change a fuse.
When Should You Replace Your Golf Cart Battery?
An average golf cart will need between four and six batteries (or, occasionally eight) deep cycle lead acid batteries in order to operate. If you notice that your batteries are having a hard time holding a charge or that your performance is suffering, your battery might be dying. Take note of your battery's average voltage and run time. Then, stop into your nearest Batteries Plus. The experts there can compare your currency performance to those of a new battery and let you know if it's time for a replacement.
How to Replace Your Golf Cart Battery
When purchasing a new battery, the first thing you'll need to know is whether your cart runs on 6-, 8-, or 12-volt batteries. Your owner's manual can provide this information, or you can calculate your cart's voltage using the number of acid holes on one of your current batteries.
Next, you'll want to determine whether you want a flooded or AGM battery. A flooded battery will save you some money upfront, but won't last as long and will require you to "water" the battery in order to maintain the electrolyte levels inside it. AGM batteries do cost more, however, they will last longer, recharge faster and perform better than a flooded battery option.
With that settled, shop our online selection of golf cart batteries. Enter the brand and model of your cart and you'll be given a selection of compatible batteries. Still have questions? Swing by your nearest Batteries Plus and do your shopping face-to-face. Our experts can answer all of your questions and help you pick the best battery for your needs.