Help! My Impact Wrench Battery Won't Charge After a Drop

Hey guys, I've got an issue. My 18V impact wrench battery (the one that fits my drill too) won't charge after I dropped it off a ladder. It was working fine before, but now when I pop it on the charger, the red light just blinks. Any idea what's wrong? Replacing a battery is pricey, so hoping it's a simple fix.

Bob, sounds like a classic broken connection or a damaged cell from the drop. The blinking light usually means the charger detects a problem. First, check if there's any visible damage to the battery casing or the terminals. If it looks fine, you might have a loose wire inside. If you're handy with a multimeter, you can test the voltage. If it's way below normal, one of the cells might be dead. Otherwise, you might need to open it up, but that can be risky if you don't know what you're doing. I've seen batteries where a simple resolder of a wire fixed it, but also some where the drop cracked the circuit board. If you're not comfortable, a new battery might be safer—especially for a 18V.

I dropped my Makita battery once and the same thing happened. Turned out the protection circuit tripped. Some batteries have a reset button or you can try a 'hard reset' by pressing the battery against a hard surface? No, that's a myth. But I found that removing the battery from the charger and letting it sit for a few hours, then trying again, worked. Also, make sure the contacts are clean—use a pencil eraser. If that doesn't work, it's likely a physical issue. If you're into DIY, you can open it, but check if it's under warranty first. I've seen batteries with a small metal strip that breaks off and you can solder it back.

I had a similar drop with a different brand, and the battery would charge but not hold a charge. Turned out a cell was damaged and it was cheaper to replace the whole battery than repair it. But if yours won't charge at all, it might just be a broken solder joint. If you can open it (carefully, using a plastic pry tool), look for any loose wires. If you see a broken solder point, you can heat it up with a soldering iron and reflow it. But be careful not to short anything. Also, check the charger—have you tried another battery? If the charger charges other batteries fine, it's definitely the battery. And if you're not comfortable, just buy a new one. I've been there, but a new battery is cheaper than a new tool.