I’m in a pickle here. I have installed a lift kit on my EZGO RXV golf cart and now it won’t move at all. Any advice?
Response
Oh man, I’ve been there. Had the same issue with my golf cart after installing a lift kit. After some serious head-scratching, I found that checking the motor wires and ensuring they were connected correctly fixed this for me.
Solutions that worked for users
| Solution | Users Who Found Success | Personal Experience | Estimated Cost (USD) | Time Needed (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check Motor Wires | 1 | Reconnected wires to the motor | $0 | 10-15 |
| Check for Locked-Up Brakes | 0 | Jacked up the rear end | $0 | 10-15 |
| Check Shocks | 0 | Replaced with stiffer shocks | $50-$100 | 30-45 |
Symptoms
- Golf cart won’t move forward or reverse
- Golf cart tries to move but stops
- Golf cart makes a clicking noise but doesn’t move
Possible Causes
- Loose or disconnected wires
- Locked-up brakes
- Battery issues
Solutions that Worked
1. Check Motor Wires
What I Did:
Checked the wires going to the motor and made sure they were connected properly.
Outcome:
The golf cart started moving again.
Personal Experience:
I had disconnected the wires from the motor during the lift kit installation. Reconnecting them solved the issue.
Estimated Cost:
$0
Time Needed:
10-15 minutes
Steps:
- Turn off the golf cart and disconnect the battery for safety.
- Locate the motor at the rear of the golf cart.
- Use a wrench to loosen the nuts on the motor terminals.
- Check the wires connected to the motor terminals.
- Reconnect any loose or disconnected wires.
- Tighten the nuts back onto the motor terminals.
- Reconnect the battery and turn on the golf cart to test.
Expert Tip:
Always double-check the wire connections, especially those going to the motor and controller, after installing a lift kit. A disconnected wire can cause the cart to act as if it’s binding up and not move.
Handy Tip:
Label the wires before disconnecting them. This will make it easier to reconnect them correctly.
2. Check for Locked-Up Brakes
What I Did:
Jacked up the rear end of the golf cart to check if the brakes were locked up.
Outcome:
Found that the brakes were not the issue in my case.
Personal Experience:
I thought the brakes might be locked up, but after jacking up the rear end, I found that they were fine.
Estimated Cost:
$0
Time Needed:
10-15 minutes
Steps:
- Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels to prevent the cart from rolling.
- Use a hydraulic jack to lift the rear end of the golf cart.
- Try to rotate the wheels manually.
- If they don’t rotate, the brakes might be locked up.
- Lower the cart back down and remove the wheel chocks.
Expert Tip:
The installation of a lift kit can sometimes tighten the brake cables, causing the brakes to lock up. Always check this if your cart won’t move.
Handy Tip:
Use gloves when rotating the wheels manually to avoid getting grease or dirt on your hands.
3. Check Shocks
What I Did:
Replaced the existing shocks with stiffer ones.
Outcome:
The golf cart’s stability improved, but it didn’t solve the issue of not moving.
Personal Experience:
I thought stiffer shocks might help, but it turned out the issue was elsewhere.
Estimated Cost:
$50-$100
Time Needed:
30-45 minutes
Steps:
- Park the golf cart on a level surface and turn it off.
- Locate the shocks on the golf cart, usually near the wheels.
- Use a wrench to remove the bolts holding the old shocks.
- Install the new, stiffer shocks.
- Tighten the bolts securely.
- Test drive the cart to check for stability.
Expert Tip:
If your golf cart is unstable or swaying, consider replacing the shocks. However, this may not solve the issue of the cart not moving.
Handy Tip:
When replacing shocks, it’s a good idea to replace them in pairs to maintain balanced performance.
Golf Cart Models Where This Worked
- 2010 Club Car DS 48 volts
- 2005 EZGO TXT
- 2003 Club Car
Extra info
- Battery Voltage: Sometimes, the issue might be as simple as low battery voltage. Make sure to check the battery voltage before diving into more complex solutions.
- Controller Settings: Some golf carts have programmable controllers. If you’ve recently updated your controller settings, it might be worth reverting to the default settings to see if that solves the issue.
Feel free to share your experiences and solutions. Let’s help each other out!