Weather and storage

What water, damp, cold and months of standing still do to a golf cart is the subject of this category: driving through deep water or flooding, rain use and covers, frame corrosion, electrical trouble after damp storage, water in the charging port, full winter storage and spring recommissioning, freeze damage to batteries, the different storage rules for lithium and lead-acid packs, tire flat-spotting and rodent damage. Storage rules start with the battery pack. A discharged lead-acid battery can freeze only a few degrees below zero, because its electrolyte is then close to plain water, while a fully charged battery resists far lower temperatures. Store lead-acid packs fully charged and keep them topped up through the winter, either monthly or on a maintainer. Lithium packs work the other way around: store them at partial charge per the maker's guidance, and expect the management system to go to sleep and need a wake procedure in spring. After any soaking, isolate the pack before touching anything else, then dry and inspect the vehicle in order instead of turning the key to see what happens; powering wet electronics turns a drying job into a component failure. Storage prep, recommissioning and corrosion protection are owner jobs, and the checklists here are written to be followed step by step. A cart that has been genuinely submerged, or one with corrosion spreading inside connectors and harnesses, needs a proper assessment; send us the details through our support request form.