Always do this before you start troubleshooting golf cart charger problems to prevent accidents.
Having batteries that are too dead is one of the most common reasons for a golf cart battery charger not working and can easily cause you to think your charger is at fault, which isn’t true! Your batteries might be too far dead if you leave your golf cart for a long time without turning it on or using it. The juice gradually drains from the batteries and the charger doesn’t work anymore because of that.
If you see a reading on the testing meter of at least 25-30 volts, then you probably have a different problem with the charger itself, as you originally suspected.
Any battery with less than 25 volts in it is too dead for a standard golf cart charger to charge it.
This also allows you to see areas that you can’t examine when the charger is plugged in.
The charger handle is the part that you plug into the back of your golf cart to charge it. Try plugging the charger back into the wall and connect the handle to the back of your golf cart after you do this to see if the problem is fixed.
All of the above issues can cause weak connections, which prevent your golf cart charger from working properly. This is another common reason that golf cart battery chargers seem to be broken.
Put on personal protective equipment including gloves and safety glasses before you clean and maintain batteries.
You can find anti-corrosive sprays at automotive supply shops, home improvement centers, and online.
Most golf cart battery cables are 6 AWG cables, which is the gauge of the wires. However, you can always take the old cables into an auto supply shop to use as references when purchasing new ones.
This allows you to access all the internal parts of the charger to start troubleshooting the charger itself. Always make sure you troubleshoot the batteries and the connections and make any necessary fixes before you do this. The problem might not be as big as you think and may be fixable without taking apart the charger!
Always test the diodes before you check other electrical components. They are more likely to be bad and are easier to fix than other problems.
Set your multimeter to the diode function or the continuity function to test the diodes. If you get a positive reading in both probe positions or no reading at all in both positions, the diodes are bad. If you get a positive reading in a single probe position, the diodes are good because they are supposed to have one-way continuity.
You can buy replacement diodes online or from wherever they sell automotive and golf cart battery supplies. Note that some diodes can be replaced individually and others require you to replace both at once. If you have only one bad diode and your golf cart charger’s diodes can be replaced individually, you only have to replace the bad one.
If the multimeter doesn’t beep, it means it’s not working. Check the step on replacing a bad fuse in the remedies and repair method below.
Purchase a replacement fuse with the same amp rating as the old one. The amps are usually written on the fuse itself. You can take the fuse into a shop where they sell replacements to find the right model or look up the part number in the charger manufacturer’s catalog to order a replacement online.
You don’t need any testing equipment or other tools to inspect your charger’s circuit boards.
Some models of battery chargers have multiple circuit boards, while others just have one. There isn’t really any good way to test circuit boards for problems other than by doing a visual inspection. Bad circuit boards should be pretty obvious. Internal circuit boards can get ruined by weather-exposure if you leave your charger outside for long periods of time or if the charger has been exposed to extreme temperatures.
If you aren’t sure what replacement boards to buy, remove the bad boards first and take them to a store where they sell golf cart charger parts and ask an employee to help you find the right replacement. Refer to the instructions in the replacement board’s box if you have any doubts about how to connect it. If your charger has multiple bad circuit boards, follow the same procedure to replace each one.
