My drill battery won't charge past 1 bar - anyone else had this?

Hey all, so I've got this cordless drill (DeWalt 18V, about 2 yrs old) and the battery suddenly won't charge past the first LED. I've tried a different charger, no luck. It's also getting pretty warm during charging. Anyone seen this? Is it worth fixing or should I just buy a new battery? Trying not to break the bank, ya know.

Classic symptom of a failing battery pack, Hank. The cells are likely unbalanced or one's gone bad. It can be fixed if you're handy - you can replace the cells, but honestly, unless you've got the tools and know-how, it's a pain. Replacement battery from Amazon runs about $50-60. Just make sure you get genuine Dewalt or a good aftermarket (I've had decent luck with Knockout brand). Don't buy the ultra-cheap ones, they die fast.

Hey, also make sure the contacts on the battery and charger are clean. I had a similar issue and it was just corrosion. Use some contact cleaner or a pencil eraser on the terminals. But if it's getting hot, that's a big red flag - it's likely an internal short. Better to replace it before it ruins the charger or worse, starts a fire. Safety first!

Thanks for the tips fellas. I'll check the contacts first - cheap fix if that's it. But if not, I'll grab a new one. Carl, you're right about not going cheap. I've had bad luck with those no-name ones. So you think the Knoxx brand is good? I've seen them on Amazon but wasn't sure.

Yeah, I've used the Knockout (or maybe it's Knux? whatever) brand on a few jobs - they last about as long as the OEM for about half the price. Just check the reviews for your specific model. And ALWAYS make sure it's compatible with your charger - some aftermarket batteries have different charge voltage requirements. But yeah, if the contacts are clean and it's still not charging, replace it. No point in sinking money into a 2-year-old battery.