Golf Car Options Magazine March 2020 GCOptions Mar20 MAGZTER | Page 33

How To Winterize Your Golf Cart
Wash your golf cart: Your golf
cart probably picked up quite a
bit of dirt and grime during the
season. Failing to remove this
before storing your golf cart can
result in corrosion. A thorough
wash before storing can greatly
increase the longevity of your
golf cart.
Have an adequate storage loca-
tion: Do you have a dry, warm
and spacious place to store your
golf cart? If you don’t have a
space like this at your house, you
may need to look into storage
rental opportunities. Also keep
an eye out for insects and ro-
dents, as these roommates can
wreak havoc on your golf cart.
Charge the batteries: If you
have an electric golf cart, keep-
ing your batteries adequately
charged throughout the winter
is crucial. We recommend that
you charge your golf cart at
least once a month during the
winter to keep it from discharg-
ing too much.
Turn off the controller: If possi-
ble, turn off the controller. This
will greatly reduce the batteries
drain.
Store the charger indoors:
Speaking of charging, be careful
leaving the charger with the golf
cart. Even if you have an ideal
storage location, leaving the
charger with the cart makes the
risk of damage increases. Keep
your charger inside your home
where it will be protected from
the winter elements.
Fill the tires: Cold weather re-
duces tire pressure. Make sure
you fill up your tires before stor-
ing your golf cart of the winter.
Add stabilizer to the fuel: If your
golf cart is gas you will want to
add a stabilizer to the fuel. This
will ensure the gas in the cart
doesn’t deteriorate during the
winter months.
How To Get Your Golf Cart
Ready For Spring
There is no better feeling than
taking your golf cart out of win-
ter storage. Whether you plan
to hit the golf course or just ride
around town, that first ride of
the spring is special. You may
be tempted to skip the neces-
sary steps that ensure your golf
cart is ready for spring. This is a
mistake many golf cart owners
make. Below are the steps you
should take before your first
ride of spring. As long as you
properly prepared your golf cart
for winter, this process will take
no time at all!
Check your battery and connec-
tions for corrosion and other
damage: If you notice corrosion,
use baking soda and water to
gently clean it. If the damage
seems more significant you
should seek help from a trained
professional.
Tighten the battery connections:
If your batteries are giving you
trouble, such as starting unpre-
dictably or moving slowly, it may
be time to replace them. Before
doing so you should check the
battery cables, making sure
the connections are tight. A
loose connection might be the
source of the problem. Loose
connections or bad cables will
also burn the battery post up so
make sure to check the connec-
tions even if your golf cart starts
right up without issue.
Check the tire pressure: Time
and changes in temperature
will both affect your tire pres-
sure. Give your pressure a
quick check and add/remove air
accordingly.
Check the battery water level:
Before attempting to charge
your battery for the spring,
ensure that you have the right
amount of water covering the
cells. Add some distilled water
until it just barely covers the
cells, if necessary. Failing to
have a proper battery water
level can cause issues when
charging.
Keep Reading: Electric Golf Cart
Battery Maintenance Tips
Charge the battery: Hopeful-
ly, you have been routinely
charging your battery through-
out the winter months. Doing so
will help to keep your battery in
tip-top shape. Give it one more
full charge when you take it out
of storage.
Check brakes and brake pads:
Brake failure is one of the num-
ber one causes for golf cart ac-
cidents. Keep in mind that your
brakes will only work as well as
your tires do. If your tires are
showing signs of wear and tear
you will want to replace them.
Consider investing in profes-
sional service: If you aren’t the
DIY type, you may want to find a
local professional that can prop-
erly service your golf cart and
get it ready for the spring. One
major benefit of this is peace of
mind.
If you follow these simple
pre-season tips you will be sure
to have a trouble-free season
with your cart. Proper main-
tenance will greatly increase
the longevity of your golf cart,
meaning this season won’t be
your last!
MARCH 2020
33