My drill suddenly won't charge - help!

Hey everyone, I've had my DeWalt 20V drill for about 2 years now, and last night I went to charge the battery and the charger just blinks red. I've tried cleaning the contacts but no luck. Anyone know what's going on?

Sounds like a possible battery cell failure. Does the charger light blink fast or slow? Fast blinking usually means a bad cell, while slow could be a temp issue. Also, try leaving it on the charger for a while – sometimes the battery just needs to be 'revived' if it's been sitting. If that doesn't work, you might need to replace the battery. They're not meant to last forever.

I've had that happen with my Makita. It was the battery contacts inside the pack that were corroded. Take the battery apart (carefully, it's just a few screws) and inspect the cells and connections. Sometimes you can clean them up and it works again. But if you're not comfortable, better to get a new one. Safety first!

I'll second the suggestion to check the contacts. I've restored a bunch of old tools and that's a common issue. Also, check if there's a fuse inside the battery pack – they can blow. If it's the fuse, easy fix. But if it's a cell, you might need to replace the whole battery. And if it's a 20V MAX, make sure you're using the right charger – some are not compatible.

Thanks guys. I'll open it up and look for corrosion. If I see any, I'll try cleaning it. If not, I'll probably just bite the bullet and get a new battery. Better than messing around with cells and risking damage.