Before you buy any type of golf cart, remember that your expenses won’t be only limited to the purchase. You’ll also have to spend on golf cart maintenance, which can cost you depending on how many times a year you’ll want to check your unit.

Routine maintenance is a must and repairs can happen any time in a year. So how much does a yearly golf cart maintenance cost? There isn’t an exact number for this, but the need for golf cart maintenance can cost from about $500 up to $2000 a year. This depends on how many times you want your golf cart checked every year, the kind of golf cart you have, and so on.

Golf Cart Maintenance at Home Checklist

Whether you’re paying for a service or doing it yourself, the best way to maintain golf carts is to start with a checklist.
Electric golf carts and gas golf carts may have special needs, but there are still common maintenance procedures for both carts.

Electric golf cart maintenance checklist

golf cart

Tires

  • Increase tire pressure
  • Check tires and rims condition
  • Replace tires if needed

Service Brakes

  • Test brakes
  • Clean and adjust brakes
  • Also check cables, shoes, and drums

Rear Axle

  • Check condition
  • Drain and replace fluid if needed

Batteries

  • Check for corrosion and loose terminals
  • Check electrolyte level
  • Check charge receptacle condition, replace if needed
  • Check cables, replace if needed
  • Charge at full capacity
  • For issues, perform a discharge test
  • Remove any corrosion from batteries, terminals, and cables
  • Check battery trays for corrosion due to overfilling
  • Check cables for damage and tightness
  • Fill battery water level if needed
  • Clean battery tops with water and baking soda

Front and Rear Suspension

  • Look for strut oil leakage
  • Check for excessive play in hubs/kingpins
  • Check for worn bushings, replace if needed
  • Check for loose or missing hardware
  • Check for motor brush length, replace if needed

Electrical

  • Check electronic speed connections for corrosion or tightness
  • Evaluate the condition of high-amperage parts like F-N-R switch, wiper speed switch, and so on
  • Check reverse warning buzzer, replace if needed

Steering Assembly

  • Check steering for tightness and wear
  • Check for excessive play
  • Check for loose or missing hardware
  • Grease the front end, steering, and suspension if needed

Gas golf cart maintenance checklist

campground golf car

Tires

  • Increase tire pressure
  • Check tires and rims condition
  • Replace tires if needed


Service Brakes

  • Clean and adjust brakes
  • Clean brake shoe lining, replace if needed
  • Check brake cables for excessive wear

Rear Axle

  • Check condition
  • Drain and replace fluid if needed
  • Check for oil leaks

Batteries

  • Check for corrosion and loose terminals
  • Check electrolyte level
  • Check battery charging


Engine

  • Replace spark plug
  • Check and adjust carburetor and linkages
  • Check PVC hose, replace if needed
  • Check starter belt for cracks and proper adjustment
  • Check valve clearance, replace if needed
  • Check fuel filter, replace if needed
  • Check clutch for wear and rattling
  • Check length of starter or generator brushes

Air Filter

  • Replace air filter

Oil

  • Replace oil filter
  • Replace engine oil

Front and Rear Suspension

  • Look for strut oil leakage
  • Check for excessive play in hubs/kingpins
  • Check for worn bushings, replace if needed
  • Check for loose or missing hardware

Steering Assembly

  • Check steering for tightness and wear
  • Check for excessive play
  • Check for loose or missing hardware
  • Grease the front end, steering, and suspension if needed

Golf cart maintenance tips

Golf cart maintenance problems may occur when the task isn’t done properly. To avoid damaging your golf cart instead of keeping it in its top condition, follow these simple tips:

  • Use only distilled water when filling water levels.
  • Fill water levels only with enough water. Filling them up to the top will leave no room for gases like sulfuric acid and hydrogen to expand. Overfilling can damage your golf cart.
  • Leaving your battery without water can burn your batteries. Or worse, it can start a fire that’ll end up in an explosion.
  • A 50-50 solution of baking soda and water can minimize corrosion over battery connections.
  • Rear differential oil level must be checked every 12 months.
  • Grease wheel rack and pinion every year.
  • When a battery needs replacement, better replace all at the same time. Mixing new batteries with old ones can reduce their life or kill them when charging takes longer than usual.
  • Charge the cart first before adding the water to cover the plates.


Create Your Golf Cart Maintenance Schedule Now

Besides having a checklist, an effective way of keeping your golf cart running perfectly is to have a maintenance schedule that you can follow.

Following the right schedule and the right tasks for golf cart maintenance can go a long way. You might be surprised to see our golf cart still working after ten years or even more.

Sources:
Willams, M. (2013, May 30) Golf Cart Service Checklist: Check it Off.

Golf Carts 101 – Basic Buying Knowledge.  

Prepare your E-Z-GO Vehicle for the Season – Electric Checklist.

Prepare your E-Z-GO Vehicle for the Season – Gas Checklist.

Ten Point Golf Cart Maintenance Checklist (2012, February 6).

Johnson, J. Buying And Maintaining Your Own Golf Cart.