How to Install a Tail Light Kit in a Golf Cart

Making your golf cart street-safe, or just safer in general, requires installing a tail light kit. Most golf carts do not come with lights, as they are not typically driving during inclement or night conditions. However, situations arise where golf cart drivers need lights on their carts. Push-button-operated tail lights allow the driver to signal to others around him when he is slowing down or stopping. A basic understanding of wiring, battery function, and tools will enable you to install tail lights on a golf cart.

Things You'll Need

  • Tail light kit
  • Masking tape
  • Pencil
  • Electric drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Screwdriver
  • Zip ties
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lift the seat of the golf cart to gain access to the battery. Disconnect the positive and negative cart wires from the battery.

    • 2

      Determine where you will place the tail lights on the body of the golf cart. Make sure the cart frame does not interfere with the location choice. Tape the tail light template included with the tail light kit in the chosen tail light location on the cart. Trace the template with a pencil to get the outline to be cutout of the cart for fitting and installing the tail light.

    • 3

      Remove the template. Tape along the outside edge of the outline to prevent splintering of the cart when you saw out the outline with the jigsaw. Drill a small hole on the inside edge of each of the corners in the tail light outline on the cart with an electric drill. Insert a jigsaw blade into one of the drilled holes, and cut along the traced outline. Make sure to not go outside of the lines. Remove the cutout piece of the cart.

    • 4

      Flip the template over, and tape it to the cart in the other tail light location. Repeat the tracing, drilling, and cutting process. Remove the cutout piece of the cart.

    • 5

      Insert the driver side tail light into the cutout hole. Drill holes through the cart that lines up with the fastening holes in the tail light. Insert the screws provided with the kit into the holes, and loosely tighten them with the screwdriver. Check alignment of the light, and then tighten the screws with the screwdriver. Do not over tighten the screws, or you may crack the body of the cart.

    • 6

      Repeat the installation process with the passenger side tail light. Run the wires from the tail lights along the lower part of the frame of the cart up to the battery. Run the switch wire up to the ignition switch panel. Remove the ignition switch panel by removing the rivets at the bottom of the panel. Drill a hole for the button switch to be inserted into. Carefully avoid drilling through any existing wiring. Remove the wiring from the switch and insert the switch from the front side of the panel. Re-attach the wiring to the switch. Replace the ignition switch panel. The button switch allows easy and proper use.

    • 7

      Make sure none of the wiring is touching the metal frame of the cart or any other metal parts. Connect the positive wire to the positive terminal on the battery. Turn the switch to the "on" position. Touch the negative wire to the negative battery terminal briefly to ensure the lights are working. A small spark at the contact point is normal. Turn the switch to the "off" position.

    • 8

      Connect the negative wire to the negative terminal. Check all the wiring to ensure there are no twists, kinks, or that any of the wire is hanging below the frame of the cart. Attach the wiring as needed to non-metal parts of the cart using zip ties to secure it in place.