Tips on Buying A Used Golf Car

Buying a used golf car can be a "no-brainer"... or it can be fraught with pitfalls you never imagined.  Most people have no clue what to look for when purchasing a used golf car.  If the body looks to be relatively "okay", they assume that the car is in the same general condition overall.  Before shelling out your hard-earned dollars on a used golf cart, perform a thorough inspection and test-drive.  Be attentive to cosmetic and obvious issues, but take time to look for the "hidden" things that might crop up as well. Here are a few tips to look for when purchasing a used golf car that might just save you some headaches... and additional dollars down the road.

Gas golf cars are generally easier to inspect because most people are somewhat familiar with internal combustion engines.  If the car runs, doesn't smoke, and "sounds" good, chances are there are no major problems with the vehicle.  Just to be on the safe side, though, be sure to check the following:

• Inspect the air filter.  It should be relatively clean, with no visable damage.  Missing air filters are a sure sign of problems ahead
• If the engine is a four-cycle, check the oil level.  The oil should be filled to the proper level, and show some level of translucence on your finger.  If it is so dirty that you cannot see through it at all, you might suspect that it was not changed at regular service intervals.
• Observe the engine exhaust while the engine is running.  Excessive blue smoke indicates excessive wear on the engine components in 4-cycle engines; however, ANY engine that smokes excessively indicates problems that need attention.
• Look for loose or missing brackets and bolts.  Check the engine mounts to see that they properly secure the engine to the frame.
• If possible, drain a little gas from the tank or carburator.  Check for water, sediment or other contaminants.

Electric golf cars tend to be a little trickier in some ways than gas golf cars.  There are a lot of different electrical systems out there, and most of us simply don't know enough about the operation of a battery-powered vehicle to know what we are looking at.  The first test is obvious... Does it Run?  If so, and your visual inspection (body, tires, seats, top, brakes, etc.) goes well, be sure to check out these areas also:

• Pay close attention to the batteries in the car.  Check each cell in each battery for proper water level.  If you have access to a load tester, test each battery for proper charge.  Better still is testing by using a discharge machine... but these will usually only be available through a golf car dealer.
• Inspect all wires and cables.  They should be clean and free from corrosion.  Battery protectant is usually a sign of good maintenance.  The tops of the batteries should be clean and free of dirt and debris also... build-up of deposits on battery tops can lead to leakage of the charge in the battery.
• CHECK THE BATTERY RACK!!  This is one of the most over-looked items when people purchase used electric golf cars.  Years of acid buildup on batteries, combined with washing the batteries by squirting them with a hose often leads to corrosive elements running down onto the battery rack... the metal tray that holds the batteries in the chassis of the cart.  This corrosion often eats through the entire battery rack, resulting in the batteries falling right out of the bottom of the cart!
• Last but not least, inspect for missing covers and/or guards.  Remember that water is the enemy of electrical components, and while most golf cars are designed to sustain exposure to repeated washing... even within the battery compartment... a missing cover or seal can result in water damage. 

As a final tip, always remember that help is only a phone call away. If you are really uncertain about the condition of a used golf car, call a professional. Paradise Golf Cars offers inspection services on golf cars, and if you are not in our area, there is probably a reputable golf car dealer nearby in your area that will gladly perform the service for you. The charge is minimal compared to the dollars you might save down the road.