Golf Cart Maintenance: The Ultimate Checklist
April 16, 2023Written by: Amber Ripley
As a proud golf cart owner, you understand the investment that you've made into your buggy. Whether you scored an amazing deal on Facebook Marketplace and spent a couple of seasons sprucing up a previously-loved Club Car, EZGO, or Yamaha, or you went with a newer model from a dealer, you enjoy your golf cart for its versatility, environmental friendliness, and ease of operation.
It's important to remember that, like any other vehicle, golf carts require some regular maintenance to keep them in tip-top shape and protect your investment. In this guide, we will discuss the importance of golf cart maintenance, the maintenance schedule, and the different components of a golf cart that require regular maintenance.
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What to Know About Golf Cart Maintenance
Golf carts are versatile vehicles that are used for a variety of purposes. No longer restricted to the lush greens of your favorite local golf course, golf carts are now seen around retirement communities, college campuses, hunting and shooting clubs, festivals, for private use on large properties, and (where permitted) for street-legal/LSV (low-speed vehicle) use.
Regardless of how or where you use your golf cart, if you want it to fire right up and continue running smoothly and efficiently every time you turn the key (or push the button), regular maintenance is critical to long-term enjoyment.
Why is Golf Cart Maintenance Important?
Proper maintenance of your golf cart is essential for its longevity and performance. Regular maintenance helps to prevent breakdowns and costly repairs. It also ensures that your golf cart runs safely and efficiently.
Neglecting maintenance can lead to problems with the golf cart's battery, tires, engine, body, suspension, electrical system, and safety features.
Golf Cart Maintenance Schedule
A regular maintenance schedule is essential to keeping your golf cart in peak condition. At Golf Cart Stuff™, we encourage you to reference your golf cart owner's manual for recommended maintenance intervals.
Most golf carts require maintenance every 100 to 200 hours of use or every 6 to 12 months, whichever comes first.
Whether you have a gas or electric golf cart, your maintenance schedule should include checking the following components of your buggy:
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Battery/Batteries
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Tires
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Engine
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Body
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Suspension
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Electrical System
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Safety Features
Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
The battery, or battery pack, is an essential component for powering your golf cart, and can require regular maintenance. If you have flooded/lead-acid batteries, you will want to check the battery water level and add distilled water if necessary. Clean the battery terminals and cables regularly to prevent corrosion.
Replace your lead-acid battery(ies) if they are not holding a charge or are more than five years old. Check your battery manufacturer's warranty for specifics.
Lithium golf cart batteries will last much longer than their lead-acid predecessors, 8-12 years in some cases! On that note, most lithium golf cart batteries require little to no maintenance whatsoever, as long as you charge the battery regularly and maintain clean connection points.
Fun Fact: The UNO Lithium Battery from Golf Cart Stuff™ comes backed by a rock-solid 10-year warranty! Read our complete Battery Buying Guide here!
Golf Cart Tire Maintenance
Tire maintenance is crucial to ensure that your golf cart runs smoothly and safely. Check the tire pressure regularly and adjust it as necessary. Inspect the tires for wear and replace them if they are worn out. Rotate the tires regularly to ensure even wear.
Golf Cart Engine Maintenance
The engine is the heart of your golf cart, and it requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Regularly checking and changing the oil, as well as cleaning or replacing the air filter, are essential maintenance practices for a golf cart engine. They help prevent damage from dirt and debris, ensuring reliable performance and prolonging the engine's life. Additionally, scheduling regular service appointments with a professional technician can identify potential issues and make necessary repairs or adjustments to keep the engine running smoothly.
Cleaning the Golf Cart Body
The simplest, yet most noticeable, part of your golf cart to maintain is its body. In order to keep your buggy looking sharp and lasting a long time, wash and wax the body regularly to protect the paint. Clean the windshield with soap and water (or ask us about the most highly recommended acrylic cleaner on the market - NOVUS), just never use ammonia-based cleaners on an acrylic windshield!
Golf Cart Wheels can be cleaned with a simple soapy water solution, and finished off with GCS™ Tire Shine. Lastly, wipe down all of the interior parts and accessories, like seats, dashboard, cupholders, steering wheel, floor mats, etc.
Golf Cart Electrical System Maintenance
The electrical system of your golf cart is crucial to its performance and safety. Check the wiring and connections regularly and tighten any loose connections. Test the battery charger and replace it if it is not working correctly. Inspect all fuses and replace any that are blown or showing signs of age.
Golf Cart Suspension and Alignment
The suspension of your golf cart is responsible for providing a smooth ride. Check the shocks and struts regularly and replace them if they are worn out. Lubricate the suspension components regularly to prevent corrosion.
Maintaining proper alignment on your golf cart is essential to safety and performance, as well as the life of your golf cart tires. Read our in-depth breakdown on Golf Cart Alignment 101 here!
Maintaining Golf Cart Safety Features
The safety features of your golf cart are crucial to keeping you and your passengers safe. Examine the brakes regularly and replace the brake pads if they are worn out. Test the seat belts and rear seat safety grab bar and replace the hardware or the parts themselves if they are not working correctly. Inspect the steering system and replace any worn-out components.
DIY Golf Cart Maintenance
The best part about having to perform maintenance on your golf cart is that most of the tasks are easy to do from the comfort of your own garage! Of course, you can always rely on your local golf cart shop to complete regular maintenance, and it's a great idea to have them inspect some of the more concealed components, such as the engine, motor, controller, etc.
What We've Learned...
Regular maintenance is essential to keeping your golf cart in good condition. Routine care for your cart will help to prevent breakdowns and costly repairs, and ensures that your golf cart runs safely and efficiently. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance intervals and check the batteries, tires, engine, body, suspension, electrical system, and safety features regularly. By following these tips, you can keep your golf cart running smoothly and enjoy it for many years to come.
Next Steps
If you need any assistance with golf cart maintenance, don't hesitate to reach out. It's our mission to make sure you have the best-performing, coolest-looking golf cart in your area, and we'll do whatever we can to help you achieve that goal.
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