Golf cart batteries fail from being left discharged, run low on water, or worked through a loose cable. A short monthly check catches those before a Saturday ride dies in the driveway.
- Plug the cart in after the last ride of the week and let the charger finish. Unplug it when it goes green. Do not interrupt the charge every night and also do not leave a charger that never shuts off connected for a week.
- On flooded batteries, check the water after a charge. Plates must be covered. Use distilled water only. Skip this on AGM and lithium.
- Look at every post. Clean fresh crust. Replace a cable that is swollen or green under the insulation.
- Tighten hold-downs so the batteries cannot bounce, without crushing the case.
- Note the charger. A charger that runs all night and never finishes is pointing at a weak battery or a charger that no longer matches the pack.
- Once a season, write down the resting voltage of each battery. One battery a volt under the others is the one to watch.
Heat in the South shortens flooded packs. Owners who water and charge on a schedule usually get more seasons than owners who top off the water twice a year. When the checklist starts failing, compare a lead-acid set with a 48V lithium kit.
