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
Solution | Users Who Found Success | Personal Experience | Estimated Cost (USD) | Time Needed (Minutes) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bypass the OBC | 2 | Bypassed OBC and the issue was resolved | $0 | 10-20 |
Check Battery Voltage | 1 | Checked battery voltage and it worked | $0 | 5-10 |
Charge Individual Battery | 1 | Charged a single battery and it worked | $0 | 10-20 |
Check for Incomplete Charge | 1 | Ensured all connections were secure | $0 | 5-10 |
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:
- Turn off the golf cart and disconnect the charger.
- Locate the OBC, usually found near the battery compartment.
- Disconnect the OBC from the battery and charger by unplugging the connectors.
- Use jumper cables to connect the charger directly to the battery.
- 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:
- Turn off your golf cart and disconnect the charger.
- Use a multimeter set to DC voltage to check the voltage of each battery.
- Note down the voltage readings for each battery.
- Replace any batteries that show a low voltage, usually below 6V for a 6V battery.
- 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:
- Identify the bad battery by checking the voltage or looking for signs of wear.
- Disconnect this battery from the rest of the battery bank.
- Use a separate charger to charge this battery individually.
- Monitor the charging process to ensure it completes.
- 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:
- Turn off the golf cart and disconnect the charger.
- Check all cable connections between the charger and the golf cart. Look for loose or corroded connectors.
- Tighten any loose connections and clean corroded ones.
- Ensure the charger is plugged into a working outlet. Test the outlet with another device to be sure.
- 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!