Can you tell me why my Club Car golf cart Charger is Flashing Yellow?

My Club Car golf cart charger keeps flashing yellow, and it’s affecting my cart’s performance. I’ve tried a couple of things, but nothing’s working. I’m desperate for some advice.

Response

Hey there, I totally get it. I’ve been in your shoes with my Club Car’s charger flashing yellow. One thing that really helped me was bypassing the On-Board Computer (OBC). Let’s get into the details.

Solutions that worked for users

SolutionUsers Who Found SuccessPersonal ExperienceEstimated Cost (USD)Time Needed (Minutes)
Bypass the OBC2Bypassed OBC and the issue was resolved$010-20
Check Battery Voltage1Checked battery voltage and it worked$05-10
Charge Individual Battery1Charged a single battery and it worked$010-20
Check for Incomplete Charge1Ensured all connections were secure$05-10

Symptoms

  • Charger light flashes yellow
  • Charger doesn’t complete the charging cycle
  • Golf cart performance is affected

Possible Causes

  • Faulty On-Board Computer (OBC)
  • Bad battery
  • Charger malfunction
  • Incomplete charge

Solutions that Worked

1. Bypass the OBC

What I Did: Bypassed the On-Board Computer (OBC).
Outcome: The charger stopped flashing yellow and completed the charging cycle.
Personal Experience: After bypassing the OBC, the charger worked like a charm. I was skeptical at first but it really did the trick.
Estimated Cost: $0
Time Needed: 10-20 minutes

Steps:

  1. Turn off the golf cart and disconnect the charger.
  2. Locate the OBC, usually found near the battery compartment.
  3. Disconnect the OBC from the battery and charger by unplugging the connectors.
  4. Use jumper cables to connect the charger directly to the battery.
  5. Turn on the charger and observe if the yellow flashing stops.

Expert Tip: Bypassing the OBC is a temporary fix and should only be done if you’re sure the OBC is the issue. Make sure to reconnect it once you’ve identified the problem.

2. Check Battery Voltage

What I Did: Checked the voltage of each battery.
Outcome: Identified a bad battery affecting the charger.
Personal Experience: I was surprised to find one battery with a low voltage. Replacing it solved the issue.
Estimated Cost: $0
Time Needed: 5-10 minutes

Steps:

  1. Turn off your golf cart and disconnect the charger.
  2. Use a multimeter set to DC voltage to check the voltage of each battery.
  3. Note down the voltage readings for each battery.
  4. Replace any batteries that show a low voltage, usually below 6V for a 6V battery.
  5. Reconnect the charger and check if the issue is resolved.

Expert Tip: Always perform a load test in addition to a simple voltage check. A bad cell can sometimes only be identified under load.

3. Charge Individual Battery

What I Did: Charged one problematic battery individually.
Outcome: The charger stopped flashing yellow.
Personal Experience: I isolated one battery and charged it separately. It was a bit of a hassle but it worked.
Estimated Cost: $0
Time Needed: 10-20 minutes

Steps:

  1. Identify the bad battery by checking the voltage or looking for signs of wear.
  2. Disconnect this battery from the rest of the battery bank.
  3. Use a separate charger to charge this battery individually.
  4. Monitor the charging process to ensure it completes.
  5. Reconnect the battery and try the main charger again.

Expert Tip: Charging a bad battery individually can bring it up to par with the other batteries. Make sure to monitor the battery closely during this process.

4. Check for Incomplete Charge

What I Did: Checked all connections to ensure the charge was complete.
Outcome: The charger stopped flashing yellow.
Personal Experience: I double-checked all the connections and even tightened a few loose ones. It seemed trivial but it worked.
Estimated Cost: $0
Time Needed: 5-10 minutes

Steps:

  1. Turn off the golf cart and disconnect the charger.
  2. Check all cable connections between the charger and the golf cart. Look for loose or corroded connectors.
  3. Tighten any loose connections and clean corroded ones.
  4. Ensure the charger is plugged into a working outlet. Test the outlet with another device to be sure.
  5. Reconnect the charger and check if the issue is resolved.

Expert Tip: Always make sure your charger is in good working condition to avoid incomplete charges. Regularly inspect the charger for signs of wear or damage.

Safety tips

  • Battery Water Level: Low water levels in your batteries can also cause the charger to flash yellow. Make sure the water level is adequate.
  • Firmware Update: Some modern chargers have firmware that can be updated. Check the manufacturer’s website for updates.
  • Temperature: Extreme cold or hot temperatures can affect battery charging. Make sure your cart is stored in a moderate temperature environment.

Golf Cart Models Where This Worked

  • 2013 Club Car Precedent
  • 1996 Club Car 48v non-regen

I hope this helps anyone facing the same issue. If you’ve tried something else that worked, please share!

Ernie

Ernie loves documenting interesting facts about golf.

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