Yamaha and "Carts and Clubs of Ocala" refusing to honor their warranty
 

their warranty! I purchased a 2012 and half cart 16 months ago from Carts and Clubs in Ocala. I have had a clutch slippage issue for the entire time. Carts and Clubs has replaced belts to no avail. When the cart has two people seated and two sets of golf clubs on board it skips and slips when pressing the throttle pedal. I spoke with the Yamaha customer service dept and they are saying that the cause of this is the fact that Carts and Clubs installed a high speed rear end (as they do in all their carts) and 10" tires and that therefore the clutch is not functioning properly and not covered under their warranty. I have had several conversations with the owner of Carts and Clubs and he says that nothing will solve the problem but another clutch being installed that was used prior to 2012 on the Yamaha carts. He wants me to pay $225 for this clutch. I am refusing since the cart is under warranty and nothing was said to me at time of purchase about the warranty being questioned because of high speed gears and larger tires. The amount $225 is not the issue but the fact that the warranty should cover this so I am moving forward to have a notice in the POA paper and plan to speak with an attorney.

Wow sorry you're having such an issue! We have the same year cart from them. We have the larger tires also, hmmm we did in the very beginning have a problem I think that had something to do with the belt but they came and fixed it at no charge, we have used it to the tune of over 2500 miles and no issues since , we have always found them and the owner Ted very accommodating and willing to help. Please keep us informed on how this works out for you.

Before incurring the expense of an attorney, file a claim with the Better Business Bureau after advising carts and clubs and Yahama of your plan. The BBB will work with you for a resolution. Companies don't like dealing with the BBB nor do they like the claim against them so the resolution is usually in your favor. You can file a claim easily online.

Thanks, I have not found BBB in other states to be that effective. Since Carts and Clubs is in Ocala I will have to file there but what do I do about Yamaha who is Hdq in Georgia?

I would probably file a claim against Yamaha since they hold the warranty. If I undertand your OP, could it be that carts and clubs voided the warranty by changing the rear end. If so, BBB may determine that C & C are liable. I'm with you in that it isn't always the $$, it's the principle.

I have spoken to the customer service unit at Yamaha Corporate several times. They actually say that Carts and Clubs along with The Villages Carts installs high speed gears and larger tires and this voids their warranty. I own a cart from both companies and no one, not a single person communicates this to the buyer when purchasing a cart. Yet, Yamaha allows these companies to advertise that they are "authorized Yamaha dealers". Yamaha says they build and sell carts to go 15 miles an hour and once you modify the cart they are not liable but yet they allow these dealers to say they are "authorized Yamaha dealers". Just wait till there is an accident and the cause is speed and faulty brakes and Yamaha says..."we are not liable since we make the carts to go 15 MPH" and they all are modified to go 20 Mph.

Were you given a written/printed warranty when you bought the cart? If you were and have read it - does it indicate what kind of modification[s] could void the Yamaha warranty?

We also had a problem with a Yamaha golf cart under warranty. My dear wife went online and found out that there is a lemon law for golf carts. Our dealer also knew this and gave us a generous allowance on a new cart turning in the lemon cart to them. Be persistent and look up the law.

Yes, and there is a written warranty. In small print under "General Exclusions from this Warranty" says that "Installations of parts or accessories that are not original equipment . "Modifications that affect the carts conditions or performance". The word "exclusion" is the question. Does that mean they will not cover those changes and they are excluded? No where in the warranty does it say that modifying the cart with different gears or tires actually voids the warranty. When you go to Carts and Clubs or The Villages carts to shop you see signs that says "Authorized Yamaha Dealer". They use the same on their paperwork and letterheads. 99% of the carts sold by either dealer company are modified in some way. In addition to larger 10" tires, high speed gears that allow the cart to go 20 MPH, radios, speedometers, additional lights and wiring etc. You the consumer are led to believe that these carts are delivered from Yamaha as they sit in the showroom. Not a single persons explains to you that the dealers are modifying the cart and this can and will void the Yamaha warranty. This is wrong and Yamaha is allowing them to do this and to say that they are an authorized Yamaha dealer.

Lemon Law for golf carts
 

We bought a 2011 electric Yamaha golf cart and had nothing but problems with it. The dealer replaced the motor 4 times under warranty. My dear wife went online and found out that Florida's lemon law includes golf carts. The dealer has to allow 105% of the purchase price minus depreciation. Using this information the dealer had us trade in the defective cart (for resale) at a good amount to be applied to a new cart. So far we like the new cart. be persistent and try:
Florida Attorney General - Search Results

Good luck

Sounds like the modifications also need clutch modified. You know like putting V8 behind 4 cylinder front wheel transaxle and when you mash on the gas the tranny blows. I also think weight maybe factor (terrain hilly in your area?) when the cart weighted down with the modifications.

I can see down the road form to sign if you want the big tires, high speed gear, any electrical device that will pull amps from the charging system relieving the manufacture and the dealership of any failures. Manufactures do this to get out of problems that arise. we would be probably surprised by reading warranty on anything in lawyers terms so they can wiggle out of free repairs.

As far as law suit, you may spent more than the repair even if you win. In my case I would just get the heavy duty clutch, but bottom line that may not fix it either. I know my scooter Has similar CVT clutch and belt set up and I can Change the roller Grams to get more torque or speed out of it to point. Haven't had the opportunity to work on Golf carts YET.

Sorry you had bad experience with new cart, with all the carts modified in the villages I would think this would be big problem? That's why I think weight outside (on the cart) maybe inside the clutch working parts that expand outward to change the gear ratio on the belt?

The Yamaha Golf Car is sold to carry two people and two sets of golf clubs. If weight is an issue then the dealer and Yamaha should state this in the warranty. They DO say that modifications to the cart are not covered but it does not say in the Yamaha warranty that this voids warranty of factory installed clutches. This should be specifically pointed out to the buyer and it is not. If there was ever an accident that caused serious damage or death to a passenger and the brakes were involved in the accident then I have this feeling that Yamaha would also say "well we did not warranty the breaking system since the cart was modified". There really and truly is no Yamaha warranty on the cart at all and buyers are being misled by "Authorized Yamaha Dealers" who are not informing them of the modifications.

Not sure how Yamaha is at fault. They didn't modify the cart. They didn't authorize that the cart be modified. That was the dealer. Seems as if the dealer should be held responsible for modifying the cart and not letting you know that those modifications might void the warranty. Sorry you're going through this.

They will sell you a stock cart that goes 12 mph.

Golf Carts are Big business in TV. Given the fact that all golf carts sold in TV are modified, it seems obvious that the only warranty you really have is the Dealer. These Dealers should be made accountable. Maybe the POA will take up the issue?