Tips for buying a used golf cart

Buying a used golf cart can be a very confusing task. There are many variations and types of cars available these days, from the most basic to the most modified. Buyers have many options, but care must be taken to ensure that you do not inherit someone’s albatross. Knowing what to look for can save you big expenses down the road. The first decision you must make is whether you want a gasoline or battery powered car. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Gasoline-powered cars can be more powerful, making them better suited for utilities or for hauling loads. However, they consume precious fossil fuel and can be loud with an undesirable exhaust smell. Battery-powered cars are quiet and odorless, but have a limited range between charge cycles. When the batteries are depleted, you are done until they can be recharged, which may take 8 hours or more. After deciding which one best suits your needs and finding the right candidate, determine if they really are what you are looking for. Know what you are buying before you write that check.

• Tire wear – Make a general assessment of the tires and their condition. Are they all from the same brand and do they have similar, even wear? Uneven wear can be indicative of severe alignment problems, a bent frame, or worn steering components. Mixed brand tires are an indication that the cart may have been overused or a rebuild from scrap parts. This may not necessarily be the case, but keep that in mind as you continue to review the candidate cart.
• Steering: Never buy a car without taking time to drive it. Take it over rough terrain, as well as a solid concrete driveway. Sloppy handling should be an immediate concern for you. Worn “rack and pinion” steering boxes are expensive to replace. If the rack and pinion are worn, you can also reasonably expect the steering “rod ends” and axle bushings to need attention as well. None of these components are necessarily inexpensive to replace. If the steering wheel pulls to the left or right it may be due to uneven tire pressure or unmatched sizes. If the car pulls, first check the tire pressure to see if the problem is corrected. If it doesn’t help, the axle (on the same side you are pulling) may have a bad wheel bearing causing drag. You can lift that corner of the cart and see if the wheel turns freely.
• Battery age – Most golf cart battery manufacturers stamp the date of manufacture on the top of one of the battery posts. You can easily see an “08” or an “09”, etc., even with the battery cable connected. Note that batteries that are older than three years should be replaced as soon as possible. Expect to pay $ 600 or more for a new set of batteries, regardless of configuration or voltages. Also, never assume that the batteries are from the same period as the car’s model year. Additionally, multi-year batteries in the same car could be a clue that the car has seen serious use in a fleet environment.
• Brakes – Make sure the brakes are secure and stop the cart quickly without squealing or squealing. Replacing the brake shoe is usually not a big deal, unless service has been neglected to the point where the brake drum is punctured or damaged in some other way. Excessive rust and corrosion around the brake backing plates behind the rear wheels can be an indication of possible careless maintenance.
• Frame integrity – Steel frames are very susceptible to rust and corrosion, especially under the battery compartment. I’ve seen cars that otherwise look great, actually splitting in half due to battery acid leaking out and eating away at the frame. Some manufacturers, like Club Car, now use fully welded aluminum frames that do not rust, but are still susceptible to corrosion in the form of aluminum oxide (rather than iron oxide). Corroded aluminum has a thick layer of white diffuse powder, which is equivalent to rust. Stay away from any cart that you suspect has a frame problem. The cart could end up being totally useless to you later.
• Smooth Driving – A car in good condition should roll smoothly and quietly. A wobbling or uneven movement when driving on a solid, smooth surface indicates a problem. A bent wheel, or worse yet, a bent axle will cause the cart to move up and down with a frequency proportional to speed. An “out of round” tire can also cause a similar symptom, but this is generally not the case. Worn front components will exaggerate symptoms dramatically.
• Wiring – Wiring must be neat and chafed with factory clamps and terminations. Be careful with modified wiring if it doesn’t look like it was done by a professional. Cobblestone wiring can cause you major headaches if you are not an electrical system expert. A shorted wire in an electric car can be devastating. Batteries’ tremendously high current capacity can turn a poor-quality wiring system into a giant lighter. Look for splices and taped connections that don’t seem like they belong, and then check out.
• Strange Drivetrain Noises – Turn off any radios and the like when taking your test drive. Listen for any strange noises that may be present. Squeaks, excessive whining, or clicking can help you identify problems with the cart. The sounds a vehicle makes can tell you a lot if you take the time to listen.
• Gasoline Engines – Be sure to look at the engine. Even if you are not a motor mechanic, you can easily evaluate some things. Total saturation of the engine with oil and grease probably indicates a leaking crankcase or gearbox, or worse, a cracked crankcase or gearbox. Check for large amounts of soot residue in the exhaust pipe, which is indicative of an oil burner (worn piston rings). Be sure to allow the engine to warm up before conducting a test drive. An engine will only reveal if you smoke a lot, after it is hot enough. Take your time and check it out. Popping sounds in the exhaust or gunshots can be caused by improperly adjusted carburetors, but more commonly by burned intake or exhaust valves in the engine. Rebuilding an engine can cost you dearly if you need it in the future. Make sure you pay proper attention to it.

A car in good condition can offer literally decades of dependable service. Taking the time to select the correct cart that meets your needs now will pay dividends down the road. After purchasing your cart, visit some of the vendors that offer great aftermarket products to customize your vehicle. If you want to speed up your cart a bit, visit Digital Overdrive Systems on the web for more great tips.