One of the most frustrating things that can happen while driving your golf cart is that it comes to a sudden halt. There’s no warning, rhyme, or reason for why it’s happened. All you know is that the cart went from 20 to 0 in a hurry. Obviously, there’s something wrong with your golf cart, but you have no idea what.
The most common reason golf carts suddenly stop without warning is that your batteries have died, wiring has overheated, solenoid has failed, or other electronic failures. However, if you know that your batteries are charged enough to operate, but your cart still stops, something else is amiss.
Regardless of what is causing your golf cart to stop suddenly, it’s essential to put your mechanic hat on and get to the bottom of it. Carts that stop suddenly aren’t just inconvenient. They can also be dangerous if you’re operating your golf cart in a crowded area or are crossing an intersection. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to know what to look for and how to avoid it.
7 Reasons Why Golf Carts Suddenly Stop and What to Do
Dying Batteries Cause a Golf Cart to Stop
If you have an electric golf cart that comes to a sudden and unexpected halt, dead batteries are the most likely cause. Just as gasoline is the fuel that propels a gas cart forward, batteries are what drive an electric golf cart. Like all batteries, however, golf cart batteries are prone to dying if you don’t keep them charged.
The nice thing about dying batteries is that you usually have some forewarning before the cart comes to a complete halt. You may notice that it accelerates slower or starts slowing down unexpectedly. However, if you have an older cart, it can come to a stop with little to no warning.
Battery Water Levels Can Cause your Golf Cart to Stop
If your cart’s batteries are fully charged, it’s still possible that they cause the problem. Golf cart batteries have water inside them that helps keep your battery from overheating and spread an electrical charge throughout the battery. If it’s low on water, your batteries won’t be powerful enough to propel the golf cart forward. The result is that you’ll come to a halt, possibly without warning.
You’ll have to refill the battery with distilled water to the appropriate levels to get your golf cart moving again.
The Speed Magnet Can Fail Causing your Cart to Stop
The speed magnet on your golf cart is connected to the speed sensor, which helps your cart gauge and maintain speed. The magnet is a very finicky component that can break, loosen, and separate from the sensor. When this happens, your golf cart won’t be able to maintain its current speed and will come to a halt.
While the speed magnet is a small component, it’s challenging to repair and takes a great deal of work. However, as long as you have the right tools and a little know-how, you can replace the speed magnet.
Motor Controller Output Regulator Causing your Cart to Stop
You’re probably wondering what on earth a motor controller output regulator is and whether or not your golf cart has one. The short answer is that your golf cart has one, and its job is to keep your cart moving smoothly and steadily. It helps your golf cart know how fast it should go according to the pressure you’re applying to the gas pedal.
The motor controller output regulator undergoes a ton of stress and use, which means it will inevitably fail at some point. When this happens, you’ll be up a creek without a paddle.
V-Glide Unit
The V-Glide unit on your golf cart is like a regulator that helps control and direct the flow of electricity in your golf cart. Therefore, when it gives out, your golf cart won’t have electricity in the right places and will lose power.
The good news is that your V-glide is very durable and rarely gives out. However, it can rattle and loosen or wear out over time. It’s also possible for dust, dirt, and other debris to get into the assembly and damage the V-Glide Unit. Either way, you’ll have to replace the unit to get your cart working again.
Loose Wiring Can Cause your Golf Cart to Suddenly Stop
Whether you have a gas or electric golf cart, it’s bound to have plenty of wiring running through it. While they might not look significant, each of the wires in your cart plays an important role. Some are even responsible for transferring electricity and power to your motor and batteries. Therefore, if the wrong wire loosens or frays, you’ll have to repair or replace it to get your cart moving again.
Your Solenoid Gave Out Stopping your Golf Cart
The solenoid is directly linked to the motor controller output regulator and is sometimes what causes it to fail. In some cases, your cart might fail, and it appears to be the motor controller output regulator, but it’s actually the solenoid. Therefore, you should always check the solenoid before replacing the motor controller output regulator.
Why Did My Golf Cart Just Stop?
Your golf cart can stop suddenly for any reason we just examined. However, it can also quit because of choke or carburetor issues. For instance, if you get too much dirt in your carburetor or your choke gets stuck, it can cause your golf cart to stop suddenly. Apart from these issues, the solenoid is another common reason for the sudden electrical flow disruption, which will stop your cart.
What are the Most Common Problems With Electric Golf Carts?
While gas golf carts and electric ones share a few similar issues and problems, electric carts also have some that are uniquely their own. The most common problems with electric golf carts revolve around the batteries and the solenoid. Electric golf carts also frequently experience ignition switches, direction switches, and speed control problems.
How do You Reset a Golf Cart?
One of the nicest features of electric golf carts is that they often include reset buttons. In most cases, the reset button is located near the motor, and you’ll have to remove an access panel to get to it. After you identify and push the reset button, you’ll have to recharge your batteries to get your golf cart up and running.
What Causes a Golf Cart to Stall?
The reasons that your golf cart keeps stalling are often the same issues that can cause a golf cart to come to a complete stop. Start with the batteries and solenoid, then proceed to other issues like the speed magnet, motor controller output regulator, and loose wiring. With enough investigation and inspection, you should be able to get to the source of your problems.
