Dewalt 18 volt batteries suddenly going dead

[PerryW]

Now I have three of the 18 Volt Batteries that have suddenly stopped working. I know there has to be something simple because one day they work great and the next day they will not take a charge.

Is there a way to fix them or anywhere I can send them to get them fixed? They cost about $65 each.

[BryanEx]

I use many DeWalt tools at work and the only time I've had issues with the batteries is when I've allowed them to be frozen at some point (like leaving them in my truck overnight). Have you tried a different charger just to confirm it's in fact the batteries that are the problem?

[kinalfarm]

like bryanex said try a different charger first. you can rebuild them for about $20 your self but it is time consuming. there is a web site online that sells the cells that are inside the battery and they solder together in a serries. just searchit on google. i have an exta charger thats brand new if you wana pay the shipping you can have it.
also if batteries get too clod or hot they wont take a charge till they get back to room temp.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I throw about 5 batteries a year out and its frustrating as you said they seem to all die at the same time. A buddy paid $15 for a web site video on how to shock the batteries back to new:mad: BULL S&^%&%&t All I did was weld the contacts to the welder:o The older the battery the less freezing it will take I have alot of them and it seams they go weak after a few years and then its toast. Do you have the charger that has the yellow button that is supposed to restore the charging system? I was in wisc and a friend of a friend had a 2 18 volt drills in the boxes brand new for $100 apeice so I got the last 2 they had 2 batteries each with chargers so Im in good shape. They are the smaller of the 18 volt No hammer feature and the smaller batt but they kicked butt in the garage

[wnybassman]

how to shock the batteries back to new:mad: BULL S&^%&%&t All I did was weld the contacts to the welder:o

If it is a lithium battery this is possible. For some reason you can draw down a lithium battery down beyond dead, and when put on the charger it will say the battery is defective. Best remedy to this is to "jump start" that battery with a fully charged one. + to + and - to - for a few seconds. This will put enough juice in it to let the charger recognize it is a good battery. We threw away the first battery that did this not knowing what we could do. The second battery that did this we learned this trick and have had to jump it three times now in two years. $65 lesson learned.

Having all the batteries doing this at once is a little suspect though.

[PerryW]

thanks for the info. To clarify,

- They did not go dead all at once, it was over a period of 2 years.

- I have two chargers and they don''t work in either. The inticator light goes to a rapid flash mode

- One of the chargers has the yellow button, so I'm trying that now.

For the record, you can get the batteries cheaper by buying a package deal at Lowes or Home Despot. I got a skill saw, drill, charger and two batteries for less than buying just the battteries.

[Homestead Maple]

thanks for the info. To clarify,

- They did not go dead all at once, it was over a period of 2 years.

- I have two chargers and they don''t work in either. The inticator light goes to a rapid flash mode

- One of the chargers has the yellow button, so I'm trying that now.

For the record, you can get the batteries cheaper by buying a package deal at Lowes or Home Despot. I got a skill saw, drill, charger and two batteries for less than buying just the battteries.
I've sent a few batteries to this place and have always had good luck. The only thing is by the time you pay for the repair and return postage: $40, and the postage to send it in the first place: $4.50 or so, your close to a new battery price any way. The only thing is the rebuilder uses replacement cells that have more capacity than the original, so you get more use per battery charge. I thought it was worth having them rebuilt because of the extended run time. Their website is: www.walkersbatteryrepair.com

[KenWP]

I fianally got that web site to open after two months of trying.

[orser506]

But if anyone is interested i have 6 or 7 ryobi 18v alkaline that are in various stages of charge , 2 were new last year. You pay the shipping and you can have them all and a copy of the plans to rebuild your own. I will only use lith batteries now my first one cost me $100 cdn plus the charger 3 years ago and it is just as strong as then. i bought 3 more and a 6battery charger on ebay this year. Once you use em the extra money seems trivial ..

[wanting to get into it]

fixing your own batteries is easy to do. If you want to do it yourself just get on you tube's web site and search cordless drill battery fix. There you will visually be able to watch and learn how to fix your batteries. As long as you own a car battery charger. Simple enough and it works. Also, if you are getting a weak 12v battery, try opening up the caps on the top and putting a 1/4 tsp of epsom salt in each cell. This will clean the plates in the battery.

[maple flats]

I've had problems charging cold batteries. I find it necessary to bring the battery and charger home and charge here, it's often too cold at the sugarhouse and the charger never kicks in. This is on Lithium. I have DeWalts that have been stored in the sugarhouse for 3-4 years, unheated except during a boil (and summer) and I've never noticed a NiCad problem with cold. Might be I was lucky. I do have a couple of older ones I was thinking about getting repaired but haven't ever acted on it.