How to Test a Golf Cart Motor

Owning a golf cart requires a lot of care, including constantly testing the golf cart motor. Early detection and troubleshooting golf cart motor problems can save you from spending a lot on golf cart repairs. If you come across golf cart problems, confirm if the motor is functioning properly by doing the following steps.

Step 1 – Test the Source of Power

Before you check the motor of your golf cart, first test the source of the power: the wall socket where you charge your golf cart. Using your 120-volt tester, test the actual socket that you use to charge the cart itself. Your socket is bad and either needs to be replaced or the circuit breaker needs to be reset if there’s no voltage reading. Reset the circuit breaker by flipping the breaker box switches. Get an electrician to change the socket.

Step 2 – Check the Batteries

If there’s nothing wrong with the wall socket, it’s time to check if the batteries are working. Your batteries will have two clamps with cables attached to it. Insert the screwdriver into the screw slot on a clamp and turn the screwdriver counterclockwise. Repeat this step with the other clamp.

Test the voltage of the battery by touching each side of the wires to the tester. This procedure is to done on all the batteries. Don’t forget to remove the clamps before testing the other batteries. If the tester shows less than 12 volts, the batteries need to be replaced.

Step 3 – Check the Motor

If the batteries are good, check the motor. The golf cart motor is located under a panel, usually at the back of the cart. Generally, the panel will be held onto the cart with four screws. Turn the screwdriver counterclockwise using a screwdriver.

Step 4 – Detach the Wires

Detach all the wires to the motor and label them. Ensure that none of the terminals are grounded to the motor.

Step 5 – Check the Terminal

Check the F1 terminal if it’s not grounded to the motor frame. Make sure that continuity is present between the F-1 and F-2 terminal and A-1 and A-2 terminal, but not between the terminal, meaning A-1 terminal to F-1 terminal. This test will show that there is something wrong with the motor even if the required 36/48 volts to the motor is applied. If your motor has an S terminal instead of an F, then connect the S-1 to the A-2 terminal. Then, connect the 12-volt positive from the battery charger to S-2 terminal. Finally, connect the 12-volt negative from a battery charger to the A-1 terminal. Turn on the charger, observe what happens, and then turn off the charger.