My cordless screwdriver is making a weird grinding noise and won't hold a charge - help!

Hey folks, having a weird issue with my 18V cordless screwdriver (brand: ProDrive). It started making this grinding/whirring noise when I use it, and now the battery won't charge properly. It sits on the charger for hours but only lasts like 5 minutes. Anyone else dealt with this? It's only about 2 years old.

Sounds like the motor brushes might be worn out - that grinding noise is classic. I've restored a few older models where the brushes were completely shot. If it's a brushless motor, could be bearing failure. As for the battery, lithium-ion cells degrade over time. Have you tried cleaning the battery contacts on both the tool and charger? Oxidation can cause charging issues. If that doesn't help, the battery pack might need rebuilding - I can walk you through testing the individual cells if you're comfortable with a multimeter.

Before you do anything, OP - SAFETY FIRST. Don't keep trying to use it with that grinding noise. Worn components can lead to sudden failure, and you don't want parts flying off. Also, if the battery is getting hot while charging or showing any swelling, stop immediately - fire hazard. Check if ProDrive has any recalls on that model. Sometimes these issues are known defects. And wear eye protection if you're taking anything apart!

My boss had me deal with something similar last month on a jobsite. We had a drill making noise and the fix was actually pretty simple - there was a bunch of sawdust packed in the ventilation slots. Maybe try blowing it out with compressed air? Also, are you using the right charger? My cousin fried his battery using a charger from a different tool.

I had my DeWalt do something similar after I dropped it off my workbench (oops!). The noise turned out to be a cracked gear in the transmission. As for battery - I've had good luck with aftermarket replacements from BatteryBay. Half the price of OEM and they warranty them for 2 years. But listen to Gary about safety stuff first!