Spring is officially here and golf cart owners across the country are eager for their first ride of the new year. Before you take your golf cart out of storage and hit the open road, you will want to make sure your golf cart is ready for spring. In order to ensure your golf cart is ready after a long winter, we must first address how to winterize your golf cart. Failing to do so will make it much harder to get your golf cart ready for spring when the time comes.
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 prior to storing your golf cart can result in corrosion. A thorough wash prior to storing can greatly increase the longevity of your golf cart.
Have an adequate storage location: 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 rodents, as these roommates can wreak havoc on your golf cart.
Charge the batteries: If you have an electric golf cart, keeping 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 discharging too much.
Turn off the controller: If possible, 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 reduces tire pressure. Make sure you fill up your tires prior to storing 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 winter 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 necessary 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 prior to 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 connections 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 unpredictably 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 connections even if your golf cart starts right up without issue.
Check the tire pressure: Time and changes in temperature will both affect your tire pressure. 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: Hopefully, you have been routinely charging your battery throughout 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 number one causes for golf cart accidents. 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 professional service: If you aren’t the DIY type, you may want to find a local professional that can properly service your golf cart and get it ready for the spring. One major benefit of this is peace of mind.
The wait is officially over! If you follow these simple pre-season tips you will be sure to have a trouble-free season with your cart. Proper maintenance will greatly increase the longevity of your golf cart, meaning this season won’t be your last!
