Direct Short, Now what?

[damone]

Hello,

New here.

Uncle wants to give me his 87' EZ Go.

serial # 507-871 manufacturer # 88L24

He had to replace the F/R switch and when hooking it back up fried his battery wires.

He said he was confident he wired it back correctly, but who really knows?

The cart has no batteries in it right now.

Should I bother with it, or let him junk it?

I can follow the forums well and am willing to investigate, but figure I need batteries to even begin to figure it out.

Is there anything I can look at prior to taking possession that would tell me to stay away?

thoughts/advice/

Thanks,
D

[golfcartg]

Don't junk it! EZ Go is a reputable brand with a wealth of resources and support available making it a valuable candidate for restoration. These carts have a robust community here and parts availability, so even older models like your uncle's 87 can be brought back to life with some effort.

Let me share a funny wiring story to put things in perspective: I once knew a guy who wired his cart so poorly that when he hit the gas, the headlights would turn on, and when he tried to turn on the headlights, the horn would honk! Your situation with the fried battery wires is a walk in the park compared to that.

First, use the wiring diagram to verify all wires are correctly connected. If you find this daunting, you can take the cart to an automotive mechanic or anyone familiar with electrical systems. They can use the wiring diagram to sort things out.

Once the wiring is sorted, the main cost will be a new set of deep cycle lead-acid batteries, which will run you about $600-700 at Sam's Club or Costco. If the battery charger is dead or missing, consider adding an extra 6 volt battery to make the cart 42 volts and purchase a 42 volt charger. This will give you a bit of extra speed without requiring other modifications, as the system can handle the increased voltage. And if the stock 18in tires are caput, consider replacing them with 20 inch tires which will give you about 10-15% more speed.

Don't let a little wiring issue scare you off. You can get that EZ Go running smoothly again!

[Michael Eddie]

Hey Welcome aboard!

That sounds like a cool project, take a moment to visualize how awesome it'll be once you've got it cruising smoothly. You've got this!

[golfcartg]

[RideonTractor]

Well howdy "New here" from NorCal, let me tell you a little story. Back in the day, I was fiddlin' around with an old pickup truck I found sittin' in a barn. The thing was rusted out, covered in dust and lookin' like it hadn't seen the light of day in forever. I decided to take it on as a project. Spent DAYS cleanin' it up, gettin' rid of the cobwebs, and finally got to the engine. Found out a family of Raccoons had made a home in the carburetor! After evictin' them little critters, I discovered the wiring was a tangled mess of chewed up cables and mystery connections. But, I stuck with it, bit by bit, piece by piece, until one day, I turned the key and, lo and behold, that old truck ran back to life.

About your uncle's 87 EZGO. Sounds like a bit of a mystery, kind of like my raccoon adventure. Before you dive in headfirst, take a good look at the wiring and the F/R switch. Check for any obvious signs of damage or incorrect connections. Without batteries, it’s tricky to test much, but you can still inspect the overall condition. If it looks manageable, it might just be worth the effort. Just like my old pickup, sometimes these jobs need a bit of patience and a willingness to dig in. If you’ve got the grit for it, you might find it’s worth every minute. Plus, you can count on the folks here to offer a hand when you need it.