My leaf blower battery won't charge - any ideas?

Hey y'all, my Craftsman 40V leaf blower just died mid-use and now the battery won't charge at all. I've tried reseating it, cleaning the contacts, but the charger just shows a blinking red light. Anyone else had this issue? I'm on a budget, so hoping it's not the battery itself.

That's a bummer, Steve. I've seen this before. Could be the charger giving up or the battery cells are shot. I've had luck with trickle charging a depleted battery with a compatible charger, but it's risky. If you have a multimeter, check the voltage on the terminals. If it's below 30V, it might be toast. I've got a bunch of spares, but they ain't cheap.

Hold on, before you go buying a new battery, make sure the charger is actually working. I've seen many a charger die and show that blinking light. Also, check the battery contacts for corrosion. But most importantly, don't try to force charge a battery that's below 30V - that can be a fire hazard. I'd recommend getting a replacement if it's out of warranty. Better safe than sorry.

I had the same thing happen with my 40V battery last year. Turned out the charger was the problem, not the battery. I bought a knockoff charger online for like 20 bucks and it's been working fine since. But if you're handy, you can try opening the charger and checking for blown fuses. Just be careful not to zap yourself.

Thanks for the tips, y'all. I'll dig out my multimeter and test the battery voltage. If it's low, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and get a new one. Appreciate the advice!