How to Check the Water Levels in a Golf Cart Battery

Checking the golf cart battery water level is an easy maintenance task.

Keeping your golf cart battery properly maintained won't improve your handicap, but it will help keep you on the golf course so that you can master your swing. With regular maintenance, the life expectancy of a golf cart battery is 2 to 7 years, depending on battery quality. Battery maintenance begins with checking the water level. Checking the level at least once a month is easy and can prevent costly replacement caused by the battery plates' drying out.

Things You'll Need

• Wet rag
• Acid-resistant gloves
• Eye goggles
• 1 gallon distilled water
• Turkey baster

Instructions

1. Open the battery compartment.

2. Put on the eye goggles and gloves. With the wet rag, clean the top of the battery caps that cover the battery cells.

3. Carefully remove the plastic caps and set aside.

4. Look into each battery cell. The water level should be above the top of the lead plate. If the water level is correct, replace the plastic cover.

5. 

   Turkey basters easily control the amount of water added to the battery.

   If the cell needs water, insert the turkey baster into the distilled water and squeeze the bulb on top of the baster to fill the tube with water.

6. Insert the tip of the baster into the battery cell and squeeze the bulb to release the water. Repeat until the water level is correct.

7. Replace the battery covers and close the battery compartment.

Tips & Warnings

• Use only distilled water. Tap water contains minerals that can harm the battery.

• A turkey baster helps control the amount of water added to the battery.

• Continue checking the battery water level even if the golf cart is not used for an extended period of time. A dry battery cell can reduce the battery life span or ruin the battery.

• Do not overfill the battery. In warm weather, excess water can be forced out of the battery and will cause corrosion on top of and around the battery.

References

• Genesis Golf: Battery Maintainance Information
• Batttery Stuff: Battery Tutorial