Contents
Too Much Water in Your Golf Cart Battery? Here’s What Happens
Too much water in your golf cart battery can cause the battery not to start your golf cart or to die quickly while you’re driving it.
Here’s what happens when you put too much water in your golf cart battery and what you can do about it!
Like any lead-acid battery, golf cart batteries are susceptible to damage if they are filled with too much water. But, like many other aspects of golf cart maintenance, there’s a lot of confusion about how much water is safe to add and how much is too much.
If your golf cart battery has too much water, this article can help you figure out what’s happening and how to fix it. Read on to learn more!
Symptoms of Overwatering Golf Cart Battery
- The golf cart battery won’t hold a charge.
- The golf cart won’t run as long on a single charge.
- The golf cart may run erratically or not at all.
- The golf cart may produce sparks or smoke when trying to operate.
- The golf cart may overheat and catch fire if left on too long or used too frequently without proper ventilation.
- The golf cart may require constant jump-starts to operate. Overwatering the golf cart battery can cause electrolyte leaks, leading to hydrogen gas production and eventually an explosion. If you notice any of these symptoms, you must immediately stop watering your golf cart batteries.
- When it comes to winter storage, ensure that your batteries are fully charged before storing them, so they do not experience any chemical changes from being held at low temperatures for extended golf cart battery periods.
Results from Over Watering Golf cart Battery
- The golf cart battery will start to show signs of corrosion.
- The battery will slowly lose its charge and won’t be able to power the golf cart for as long as it usually would.
- Over time, the battery will become increasingly damaged and may eventually need to be replaced.
- In some cases, too much water can cause the battery to leak or even explode.
DIY Tips for Fixing the Problem Golf Cart Battery
If you’ve ever put too much water in your golf cart battery, you know it can be a pain to fix. With some elbow grease and basic knowledge, you can get your golf cart battery back up and running in no time. Here’s what you need to do:
- To start, you’ll need to identify what caused your golf cart battery to overfill.
- If you added too much water by accident, use a siphon to drain out as much of that water as possible.
- Once you’ve done that, it’s time to check your battery levels with a hydrometer and recharge as needed.
- You may also want to add an equal amount of distilled water if you didn’t take the battery down before adding more.
- Adding distilled water first will help balance the electrolyte level, preventing further overfilling.
- After adding any necessary distilled water, top off your battery with more water and charge until fully charged.
- Check on your charging process regularly so that there are no problems later.
Additional Information on How to Avoid It Over Water Golf Cart Battery
So how do you avoid it?
First, remove any debris blocking the vent holes on the battery.
Next, use distilled water instead of tap water because tap water has minerals that can clog up your cells and cause corrosion.
Finally, check your manufacturer’s instructions for maximum water levels in the cells.
For example: if your battery has three compartments, you should only fill each cell about halfway full with distilled water. If you have four partitions, fill them one-fourth with distilled water.
Again, checking your owner’s manual for specific directions on how much fluid to add is a good idea. It’s also important to note that when filling the cells, don’t overfill them.
Add enough liquid to prevent overflow or spill out when the cart is tilted at an angle.
Also, ensure no air bubbles or anything else in the battery before you seal it and test its voltage level. You want 12 volts for each six-volt cell (36 volts total).
Maintaining your golf cart batteries properly can help prolong their life expectancy!
I hope I have answered the Question, “can you put too much water in a golf cart battery?”
If you need further Assistance, Contact Us.