Top 10 Maintenance Tips for your Golf Cart

Whether you're using a petrol cart, or an electric one with lead-acid or lithium batteries, giving it a once-over occasionally will save you time and hassle.

Clean Your Cart:

Give your cart a good rinse. Petrol or electric, it’s worth clearing off dust, dirt and leaves. For electric carts, avoid directly spraying electronics or sensitive wiring.

Clean Battery Terminals (Electric):

Check battery terminals for corrosion. If you're using lead-acid batteries, light corrosion can be removed with a bit of baking soda and water. Use a toothbrush to scrub, then rinse carefully. Lithium systems usually stay cleaner but still benefit from a quick check.

Check Water Levels (FLA Only):

If you’ve got flooded lead-acid batteries, open the caps and check water levels before charging. Top up with distilled water just enough to cover the cells — overfilling can cause overflow during charging.

Charging & Battery Health (FLA & Lithium):

Lead-acid batteries must be stored charged. If left flat for too long, they can be damaged or fail to charge. Lithium batteries are more stable in storage but should also be checked for charge status. If your cart doesn’t power up, make sure the run/tow switch is in the correct position. In FLA systems, you may need to ‘jump’ the batteries if they’re too flat to trigger the charger — only do this if you’re confident, or ask one of our technicians.

Check Tyre Pressure:

While your cart’s charging, check the tyres. Make sure pressures are even and within the recommended range. Uneven tyres affect handling and wear.

Grease and Fluid Levels (Petrol and Electric):

Grease all fittings and check for leaks. If your cart has a differential or gearbox (common in petrol models), check fluid levels too.

Inspect Brakes:

If you have the required equipment and knowledge, jack up the rear end and inspect the brakes. Clear out dust with compressed air and check pad thickness.

Check Brake Pedal Play:

Make sure there’s no excessive slack in the brake pedal. Adjust if necessary so the pedal responds promptly when pressed.

Tighten Screws & Bolts:

Walk around the cart and check for any loose bolts, especially on the seat frame, steering, and tray mounts.

Battery Cable Connections:

For electric carts, check that all battery cables are tight and clean. Loose cables can cause heat damage, arcing, or performance issues.

Keeping up with these checks will help ensure a safe, smooth season — and could save you from costly repairs down the track