Cart stopped running, then started again very slowly.

[BillyRay]

I have a 2000 club car ds 48 volt. VIN #A0041-946499. I have all new 8 volt batteries. It was running fine but all of a sudden it just stopped. I had to get towed back to my house. I live in a retirement community. Everyone has a golf cart. The cart sat all night. This morning with my foot to the floor it ran real slow, then spead up then slowed down then spead up again. Is it possibly the silonoid or controller or what?

[golfcartg]

If your cart just stopped and is behaving erratically, like running slow, let's look at some potential causes using the attached chart. Given that this issue seemed to have happened suddenly, we can probably rule out things like tires, brakes, an overloaded vehicle, incorrect speed settings, and improper wiring.

First, let's start by checking for dirty, broken, or loose connections. Loose or corroded connections can cause inconsistent power delivery to the motor, which might explain the sudden change in speed you’re experiencing. Over time, connections can become loose due to vibrations or corrosion can build up on the terminals, especially in a humid environment like a community near the sea or with a lot of rain. Check all the battery terminals and verify they are clean, tight and free from corrosion. You can use a wire brush to clean any corrosion off the terminals and connectors.

Even though your batteries are new, there could still be issues with discharge. If they weren’t fully charged before use, they might not be delivering consistent power. Additionally, there might be a weak battery in the set, which can drag down the performance of the entire pack. To check for this, you’ll need to perform a load test. This test measures the batteries' performance under load to see if any are underperforming. More good info on that here

These steps are great initial troubleshooting measures that can save you time and money by doing it yourself instead of taking it to a shop. A lot of these checks are straightforward and can be done with basic tools. Let me know if the problem persists after these checks, then it might be time to look into the solenoid or controller, but starting with these basics is always a good idea.