If you have a golf cart that has been sitting for years, then chances are the batteries in it have lost their charge.
But wait, what if we could prevent the purchase of new batteries for our golf carts altogether? There’s a way to prolong their life with this old-fashioned trick.
In this article, we will discuss simple ways how to recondition golf cart batteries without spending too much money.
Simple Steps in Reviving Old Golf Cart Batteries
If you want to get some use out of your old golf cart, there are steps that you can take on reviving golf cart batteries and make it functional again.
1st Step: Tip the battery on its side, preventing any acid from leaking. Allow half of the liquid to drip down into a plastic container and clean off with your brush dipped in a baking soda mixture. Rinse it thoroughly making sure not to introduce water back into the cells by using plain tap water instead.
2nd Step: Add in the Epsom salt to the water and mix well. Then, use a turkey baster and fill them to the top so that they are completely submerged in saltwater. In this way, any corrosion will be prevented before it has even started.
Epsom salt has been used throughout history as a medicinal agent for all sorts of ailments. It’s also well known in the automotive community to be an effective treatment that can restore energy and charge levels on your battery, restoring its maximum potential.
3rd Step: You should let it go through the whole cycle or charge overnight to make sure Epsom’s work properly and get rid of sulfation that could prevent the battery from taking in enough energy at once without failing prematurely.
4th Step: If you left your golf cart battery on charge overnight, and it still does not have a full charge, then it is time to replace the old one.
5th Step: If charging works out, be sure to check the battery before you need it most by changing cell caps on your golf cart and taking a long ride. If power is short-lived, then replace your golf cart’s batteries with a new product line of replacement parts.
Some reminders:
- If you notice that the golf cart battery is not properly charging a voltmeter is required to check the power output of your golf cart battery charger. Once you have hooked up and turned it on, attach a meter to the battery bank for testing purposes. It is possible that if there are issues with how well your carts chargers work because they might not be working properly or at all.
- You may think that checking the water level in your golf cart batteries is a no-brainer, but it’s important to make sure they are still saturated following each charge.
It is always important to make sure that your batteries are always in the best condition. To do this, hook up your charger after every use so they stay charged all game long.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the life span of a golf cart battery?
The average life span of a golf cart battery is four to five years. It is best to get new batteries when they die. But if you’re not keen on spending money, Epsom salt is a cheap and effective alternative for powering your cart around the block that you can try before replacing them with new ones.
The battery works extremely slow after charging it overnight, will the Epsom solution work? Epsom salt help?
Saltwater can be a good solution to fix your battery, but if you have tried this and it did not work, then it is time to replace your batteries.
How do I know if my golf cart batteries are healthy?
One definite way is by undergoing a load test which can be done when charged fully. This is to ensure that your golf cart batteries are in proper condition and not showing any signs of problems or defects such as an old battery.
If the batteries are fully charged, how long should I expect for it to work?
If you have new batteries, then 30-50 miles should be possible. There are two ways to know how old a car battery is. The easiest way is by looking at the date code on top of it and if you have trouble deciphering that, then there’s always an easy solution by performing a load test.
After a few attempts to charge the batteries, tried trickle charge as well but still won’t work?
It is possible that your battery has gone too far and will need to be replaced. This can happen if you have not been able to charge it for a while or when the voltage does not increase after several hours of charging.
How do I know if half of the acid has been drained out?
With the help of a battery tester or hydrometer.
What will happen if the battery gets overfilled (watering system)?
The worst thing you can do to a battery is to overfill it. This results in loss of acid or changes the level of electrolyte (acid) inside, which then damages the plates within and shortens its life expectancy.
Where does the distilled water go?
Lead-acid batteries do a lot of releasing when they are charging and discharging. When the battery is being charged, an increased amount will escape.
What is the first sign that the golf cart batteries are failing?
The first sign is when the battery voltage drops significantly, or If the batteries are not charging fully, then they are starting to fail.
Conclusion
Golf carts are a great way to get around, and it’s just as important that they stay in tip-top shape so that you can enjoy them for years, to avoid inconveniences and as much as possible not to have accidents in future use.
If your battery has lost some of its power or is showing signs of wear and tear then this would cause poor performance or battery failure.
We hope the guides above help you get your golf cart back on its wheels with the simple steps given.
