Steps to Winterize a Golf Cart
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For less than one hours worth of work, you can make sure that next spring, your electric golf cart will be ready to be rolling around your community or down the fairways.
Some steps that will be needed to winterize a golf cart (in no particular order) are to make sure that you use blocks to keep your golf cart from rolling. This is needed because you will want to dis-engage the brake. Keeping the brake on all winter at the very least introduces a possible failure point.
According the Used Golf Carts Guide website, cleaning of the cart both inside and out is extremely important. The purpose of wanting to winterize your golf cart is to make sure its ready to roll in the spring. Having dust and dirt on the cart can cause problems when allowed to sit for a winter season.
The batteries need to be first cleaned with a battery cleaning solution. The tightly kept recipe for this is a big secret.....okay, not really. You will need a cup of baking soda added to a gallon of water. Wash/scrub the exterior of the batteries.
Once the batteries are cleaned, its best to top off the batteries. Using distilled water, fill each battery to a water level that is about 2 inches over the plates. The battery is cleaned first so that contaminates do not get into the battery itself.
Turn the key switch to the "off" position, remove the key and leave the forward/reverse switch in the "neutral" position during storage. You will then want to place the tow/run switch in the "tow" position. For those not familiar with the Tow position, it will dis-engage the batteries and transmission. The switch is generally found under the seat and the most common place is near the rear wheel well.
The pressure in the tires should be about 18-20 psi. Double check the pressure for your tires but 18-20 is most common. The owners manual is the best place to get this information if it is not on the wheels themselves.
Cover the cart appropriate for the storage environment. In other words, those storing the cart inside will have different coverage needs from those that store their cart out in the wind, snow and rain. When I store a golf cart for winter, I typically will just place a tarp over the cart when leaving it inside. When leaving outside, the cart must be wrapped and protected much more.
Its not difficult to winterize a golf cart but when its your cart and you want the used golf cart to move in the spring, it's an important hour that you can spend to save money.
