12V battery for GAS golf cart
 

Bought my gas Yamaha from Carts and Clubs mid 2019.

Battery is no longer holding a charge.

This will be my first cart battery replacement.

I understand that 12V batteries don’t have the longest life span in our zone.

That said - is one brand of 12v cart battery better than another....like Interstate vs X...or is that it simply doesn’t matter?

Is the bottom line just get the cheapest battery and know you’ll need another in 2 +\- years?

I've gotten replacements from both auto parts stores in Wildwood.

I'm in year four on both.

Standard car battery, you can buy 1, 2, or 3 year warranty on the battery. Take your battery to any of the auto supply stores, pick the grade you want, get your `$40 core charge and re-install. I doubt the brand will make a difference.

battery
 

I have good luck with Excide from Rural King in Leesburg. Take your old battery and they will match it up. $60 or so.

Got mine at Walmart. My original battery lasted 8 years. I use a battery tender

Thanks everyone - I appreciate the insights - most wonderful!

8 years with a tender....I might give that a whirl!!

You checked and you’re starter/generator charging right?

Sometimes you pay extra for brand names, so I wouldn’t get hung up on one brand verses another cause there only I think three battery manufacturers which stick on several brands as the come down the line.

Cheapest don’t always mean best. Does it really matter in golf cart? I doubt it cause it don’t pull a load on battery vs vehicles.

12v batteries are same, it’s cold cranking/cranking amps that makes them cost more due to more plates (acid batteries). You can put any car battery in you’re cart the will fit the spot with terminals on correct configuration. I found can put same size battery in my cart as my as my car.

Bottom line, as long as it fits in the molded box and the terminals are on correct configuration. Walmart everstat batteries are hard to beat when I was pricing batteries.

https://www.dstgateway.com/ACDelcoDo...ifications.pdf

All you ever wanted to know about group configured batteries.

make sure it's not the generator...

Got mine at Tires Plus. It's not about 3 years old

Sam’s club. I think they sell Duracell batteries. Price was good and they last a long time. Take your old battery with you.

Got mine at Walmart

I bought one from Walmart. Had a three year unconditional warranty.
Had problems after two years. Took it in and they told me to go get another one.
Then the new one had the same warranty staring from that day. It has a five year prorated warranty.
:clap2::clap2::coolsmiley:

A battery normally won't go bad in a year unless it is mistreated.

Is it a sealed battery or can you add water to it? If you can add water, perhaps the cells have gone dry.

Do you normally leave it on a charger? These can sometimes cause overcharging which run the cells dry and shortens the life of the battery.

As others have mentioned, check that the generator is providing charge when the engine is running. There could be a problem with the voltage regulator, generator, or even the wiring to the battery. This could make it appear that the battery is not holding a charge when the problem really is the battery is not getting charged in the first place.

You can’t beat the prices at Sam’s or Costco for batteries.

Just bought a group 24 (24 tells you the dimensions) at Autozone for $90+tax and trade-in.

Got mine from o reiley in wildwood couple of months ago. Paid $110 out the door. They match prices. 2 year warranty

Re: battery in a gas golf cart
We have a Yamaha the original battery lasted about four years. They are hard on batteries as you are constantly starting the cart. The cart shuts off every time you stop-it does not idle. When, you then step on the gas sort of like a hybrid car you are driving on the starter till the engine starts. Ours did not fail. I knew it was getting long in the tooth because I could see the headlights dim considerably before the generator (alternator/starter) kick in.

Re: best brand
I would research on the internet. You will find far more reviews than Villagers. Sounds like you plan on putting it in yourself. You want to be sure to clean the terminals and properly clamp the battery.

Re: not holding a charge.
You want to check for leaking current. A dirty battery will allow a flow of current across the terminals. Accessories may be drawing current-etc.

Group 34 battery
660CCA will do the job for at least 2017 & up. (Gas)

If you want to get daring.
Buy a handheld multimeter to check battery voltage periodically.

Take two measurements.
First, with the engine off, system on - read the voltage ( this is nominal battery voltage)
Second, with cart running - read the voltage.
Engine on voltage should be on average 1.5 to 2 volts higher than engine off voltage.

If the voltages are not different by that amount, you need new Alternator (generator)

This coming from an Electrical Engineer

Ohiobuckeye
 

Don’t know how long cart batteries last but when I traded in my 2012 Yamaha cart in 2018, I still had the original battery in it 5 yrs. later & with 26,000 miles on it. 2 yrs. doesn’t sound very long. I would think think they would last 4 yrs.

Many products to check battery for let’s say less knowledgeable.

Amazon.com


One of many, some cheaper, some more elaborate at higher cost.

I've had several different carts and batteries. Never had a new battery and never had to replace. The must be another problem draining the battery. Is it sitting for months in your garage without being driven? Is there something else draining it.? Hmmmm

Ohiobuckeye
 

Yes 2 yr. warranty but 2 yrs. pro rated!

I’m impressed by those getting 3+ years on the cart batteries.

My charging system is Aces. But I am thinking about the battery tender path - I put 4,000 miles on it since purchase in mid 19 - but have slowed a bit now.

The tender will take care of it while I’m busy with never ending house projects!!

Love getting around by cart - one of the minor reasons why I secured a Lilly pad here in the bubble.

Is a tender necessary? I have never used a tender for a car battery even though I might not drive the car for a month at a time. Our cart sat for six months while we were away with the battery disconnected and ran fine when we got back.