Golf Buggy Care & Maintenance

A little regular care keeps your golf buggy safe, reliable and lasting longer. This is a plain-English guide to looking after petrol and electric buggies between services. If in doubt, always check your manufacturer's manual – or let us take care of it for you.

Batteries & Charging

How you look after the batteries makes the biggest difference to an electric buggy's life.

If you have lithium batteries

Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries – like the Olelon packs we fit – are virtually maintenance-free. There's no topping up with water and no equalising. Simply charge when convenient; they don't need to be fully run down first, and partial charges are fine. Charge in a dry, ventilated space and use the correct charger for the pack.

If you have traditional lead-acid batteries

• Charge after every use. Lead-acid batteries don't develop a "memory", so they don't need fully discharging first.
• Avoid deep discharges. Running down to around 50% or less is ideal; 80% is the maximum safe discharge. Don't leave them sitting discharged.
• Keep water above the plates. Top up with distilled water after charging, never before, and don't overfill.
• Keep them clean. Wipe the tops with a cloth and a little baking soda and water (keep it out of the cells); terminals should look bright.
• Always charge in a well-ventilated area – charging gives off hydrogen gas, which is flammable. No sparks, flames or smoking nearby.

Everyday Care & Cleaning

• When pressure-washing, keep the pressure low (no more than about 700 psi) and avoid aiming at seals, electrics and the battery area.
• Don't use harsh or abrasive solvents on plastic panels – mild soapy water is best.
• Check seats, bodywork and fixings for wear as you clean, so small issues get spotted early.

Tyres

Check tyre pressures regularly, and take care when inflating – these small tyres fill very quickly and are easy to over-inflate. As a rule, slightly higher pressure suits hard ground, and slightly lower pressure helps on soft turf by reducing cutting. Keep pressures even across the buggy for stable handling.

Petrol Buggies

• Check the oil with the engine warm and the buggy on level ground, park brake on. Don't overfill – too much oil can cause smoking or fouled plugs – and don't mix oil brands or grades.
• Make sure the dipstick and fill cap are properly back in place before running the engine.
• Keep an eye on fuel, filters and belts, and listen for anything unusual – a change in sound or performance is often the first sign a service is due.

Storing Your Buggy

If the buggy will stand unused for a while, especially over winter:

• Keep the batteries charged. Lead-acid batteries slowly self-discharge and a flat battery left in the cold can freeze and be ruined – check them regularly and keep them topped up.
• Store somewhere dry and ventilated.
• Check on the buggy from time to time rather than leaving it completely untouched for months.

Safety First

Always turn the key off and remove it before working on the buggy, wear suitable protective clothing around batteries, and never work near batteries with sparks or flames. For towing, use a proper tow bar and keep speeds low. These are general pointers only – your manufacturer's manual is the final word, and it should be followed for anything beyond basic care.

Quick Troubleshooting