Care & maintenance buggies
Valuable tips for the correct care and maintenance of your buggyCare and maintenance tips
Increase service life and save on expensive repairsIt's actually quite simple: just like a car, a buggy needs regular care and maintenance. Especially at the start of the season and when storing the buggy for the winter, there are a few care and maintenance instructions to follow. Also make sure you look after the battery correctly. This differs depending on the battery type. Find out in advance.
We have summarised the most important tips as videos and also for you to read up on.
Buggy care and cleaning
What you need to bear in mind for the general care and cleaning of a buggyVideo instruction
Cleaning the inside of the vehicle
Dismantling seat benchDismantle the seat bench for cleaning to prevent damage to the vehicle when removing difficult stains or heavy soiling. Excessive moisture leads to damage to electrical components. Do not use a high-pressure cleaner or steam jet for cleaning.
Cleaning benchesTo maintain the neat appearance of the benches, clean them regularly with mild soap or a gentle cleaning agent applied with a sponge or soft cloth. Use a brush with soft bristles to clean particularly dirty areas.
Cleaning the vehicle from the outside
Cleaning agentsOnly use very mild cleaning agents such as car shampoo or commercially available paint cleaner to clean the plastic parts on the exterior. More aggressive cleaning agents will scratch the surfaces or make them appear dull. Please do not use wax products for plastic parts either. This will lead to permanent discolouration.
Cleaning windscreensUse a soft microfibre cloth and clear water to clean the windscreen. For stubborn dirt, use a mild cleaning agent. Please do not use glass cleaner, as this will damage the surface of the Plexiglas windscreen.
Regular buggy maintenance
We recommend regular maintenance and inspection of buggies once a yearVideo instruction
Check tyre pressurePlease check the tyre pressure once a month. The tyre pressure should be 1.5 - 2 bar.
Cleaning inside & outsideClean the outside and inside of your cart regularly.
Check batteryOnce a month, you should check the fill levels of conventional lead-acid batteries, top up with fluid if necessary and clean and grease the battery terminals. Also check the cables and the battery holder.
Check the brake systemEvery six months, please check the brake system, the front suspension and the correct functioning of the MCOR. This check should be carried out by an experienced technician.
Safety stickers and warningsThe safety stickers and warnings on the cart should always be clearly legible. Check all safety instructions at regular intervals.
Professional inspection & maintenance of buggies once a year
Make an appointment with our technicians to have your vehicles inspected. This should be carried out once a year. In addition to the maintenance work described above, the pedal components, transmission, tracking and battery are checked as part of the inspection.
Battery care
It all depends on the type of batteryRegular maintenance and care of the batteries in your golf cart is a decisive factor in ensuring that you can get by for as long as possible without vehicle breakdowns and high repair costs. You will usually find wet batteries, AGM batteries or lithium batteries installed in golf carts.
Download the care instructions for the various battery types here.
Always ensure that maintenance and care is carried out in accordance with the battery technology installed in your golf cart/your fleet. You will find important safety instructions on the battery itself.
Wet batteries (lead-acid)Lead-acid batteries are rechargeable batteries that use lead plates and a sulphuric acid electrolyte solution to store electrical energy. Their advantages include low-cost production, high current output and a robust design.
AGM batteriesAGM batteries (Absorbent Glass Mat) are a type of lead-acid battery in which the electrolyte is absorbed in a mat saturated with glass fibre fleece. The advantages: maintenance-free design, low self-discharge, improved cycle stability and high performance at low temperatures.
AES batteriesAES stands for Advanced Energy Systems and is a product line of deep-cycle batteries. The AES batteries have been developed to offer a long service life and high reliability, especially in cyclic applications. These batteries are characterised by a robust design and advanced technologies to ensure high performance and energy efficiency.
Lithium batteriesLithium batteries are rechargeable batteries that use lithium metal or lithium compounds as the anode material. The advantages: high energy density, low weight, fast charging times, low self-discharge and a long service life.
Getting buggies ready for the season
Before the golf season is in full swing, it's important to get your buggies back in shape! With a thorough maintenance and inspection, you can ensure that your buggies run smoothly and offer you and your guests an optimal playing experience.
From checking the batteries and topping up fluids to checking tyres and brakes - timely maintenance ensures reliability and safety on the course. Prepare your golf carts now so that you can enjoy the season to the full!
Checklist
Take a test drive, listen out for unusual noises, the steering characteristics and the function of the brakes.
Carry out a front wheel alignment if necessary.
Check the tyres for external damage and check the tyre pressure. The tyre pressure should be between 1.5 - 2 bar.
Clean the golf cart as described under "Cleaning & care".
Check the brake system and lubricate the brakes.
Check the batteries and top up with water if necessary (follow the battery care instructions). Clean the battery terminals and tighten them. Also check the battery holders.
Check the cart for worn belts and hoses and replace them if necessary.
Check engine oil level, top up or change if necessary. Clean the engine cooling air intake and replace the air filter.
Video instruction
Winterising buggies
Instructions for storing buggies at the end of the seasonProper preparation is a must for anyone who wants to get their fleet of golf carts through the winter safely. We have put together some helpful tips for winterising electrically powered club car vehicles for you here. The recommended storage method requires a permanent power connection during the storage of golf carts of all battery types (AGM | lead-acid | lithium). The carts should be permanently supplied with power during the entire storage period - with the main switch switched off. Ideally, the carts should then be disconnected from the power supply once a week, reconnected and ideally moved briefly.
Checklist
This applies to vehicles with lead-acid batteries: It is recommended to carry out the water treatment two weeks before storage to ensure a homogeneous acid content of the batteries. Please be prepared for approximately five charging processes during this time. To prevent the battery from freezing, the battery should never be watered directly before storage.
- Check the water levels in each battery cell.
- If the water levels are insufficient, top up with distilled water.
- The water level should be above the cell but below the level indicator
- Turn the key of the cart to the "Off" position and remove the key. Set the direction of travel switch (forward/reverse toggle switch) to neutral or the neutral position.
- Switch off all electronic devices (e.g. GPS monitor, fan, etc.)
- Place the tow/run switch in the "Tow" position
- Now thoroughly clean the batteries, battery surfaces and the charger. Only use cleaning agents containing sodium.
- Please do not use a high-pressure cleaner. Dry with compressed air if necessary.
- We recommend using a protective spray (terminal spray) for the terminals and cables
- Check that the cables are firmly attached.
- Connect the cart to a power supply source.
→Check whether the charger is working properly by looking at the LED lights on the charger (ERIC system). The charging system activates automatically as soon as a current flow is required. If the power supply is guaranteed during the entire storage period, you should disconnect the power supply at least once a month:
→ To do this, disconnect the power cable from the power supply / cart for at least 5 seconds and then reconnect it. The charger is working properly when the LED indicator lights on the charger are pulsing green (ERIC system). - Check the acid level of the batteries (lead-acid batteries)
- Check the tyre pressure regularly (according to the specifications in the user manual)
- Please ensure an appropriate storage temperature. (Ideal: >15 °C)
- Always ensure that the tyres are secured and a roll lock (e.g. with blocks of wood), as the parking brake should not be applied at any time and the vehicle should be in neutral or in the "tow" position. This prevents the brakes from rusting or freezing.
- Bag covers and windscreens should remain permanently in the open position during storage to prevent damage, cracks and mould stains.
If you do not have a permanent power supply, proceed as follows:
- Fully charge the batteries, then disconnect and store in a dry place at approx. 18 °C.
Attention: This is not our recommended storage method!
All instructions for winter storage can be downloaded here:
Do you have further questions about the care and maintenance of buggies?
We will be happy to answer your questions and take time for you - we look forward to hearing from you!