18v Makita Drill Quit?

[mike_dmt]

I was drilling with a step bit into some 1/8" steel yesterday, with a decently charged LithIon battery, and my drill just stopped.

I figured it was the battery, so I popped in a fresh one, and nothing.

Is this common, and can it be fixed?

It is one of the white and black 18v models that came with low profile batteries.

 

[KnurledNut]

Check for power at the switch and at the brushes.
FYI The drill can be a little tricky putting back together.

 

[FMC1959]

^^^^ What he said, either the brushes or bad switch would be the likliest and easy to fix. If it is something else, probably not worth fixing.

 

[mtnkid85]

Most of the newer tools/batteries have circuitry to keep them from over heating. Was the tool hot/warm? Maybe go back and see if letting it sit for the night was enough for it to come back on.

 

[mike_dmt]

Will do. Thanks, guys

 

[Aquamoose]

I had Makita tools since the 7.2 vdc stick battery days in 1990. I abandoned them when the "smart" batteries bricked on me (stopped working) after an attempted third charge when the charger flashed a trouble sign. I learned later that the circuitry inside the batteries literally shuts down and refused to accept a charge if they sensed a "probable" bad cell. WTF. I contacted Makita and voiced my displeasure and basically dumped the useless $400 set I had for Milwaukee Fuel tools. I suspect it's a new plot to get you to buy replacement batteries but if that's true, they seem to forget that we have a longer "memory" when NiCad lasted well and we could predict that the batteries are getting less & less charge which we accept but not sudden like the newfangled ones.

Makita - Fail


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[KnurledNut]

Aquamoose, the issue you mention was a well known problem and fixed by Makita in 2012.
We went through over a dozen like this.
The newer "Star Protection" batteries have been nothing short of awesome.
I highly recommend.

 

[jjkrjh]

My drill at home just did the same thing. Checked it out and the switch went bad. Used it, set it down and nothing-dead

 

[reader2580]

Aquamoose, the issue you mention was a well known problem and fixed by Makita in 2012.
We went through over a dozen like this.
The newer "Star Protection" batteries have been nothing short of awesome.
I highly recommend.

Sure, Makita fixed the problem in 2012, but they never offered to replace all the older LXT batteries that bricked themselves out of warranty.

Two of the three original LXT batteries I had died due to being bricked. I sold the third original LXT battery I had. I now have the updated LXT batteries and none have died yet, but only two years old or so.

 

[Aquamoose]

Sure, Makita fixed the problem in 2012, but they never offered to replace all the older LXT batteries that bricked themselves out of warranty.



Two of the three original LXT batteries I had died due to being bricked. I sold the third original LXT battery I had. I now have the updated LXT batteries and none have died yet, but only two years old or so.

Precisely that. They stayed mum about the flaws and even after contacting HQ, they never offered a resolution / replacement and thus, that killed their reputation with me. I'm no weekend warrior or a DIY'er but a professional emergency vehicle upfitter that depended on cordless everyday. I even steered some guys away as well.


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[454ragtop]

Was at a yard sale a couple months ago, guy had a new in the pkg 14 volt Dewalt bat I bought for $2. After I bought that, guys says he has a Makita drill with batteries and charger, used to work but all of a sudden doesn't, and I could have it for free if I wanted to play with it. Figured what the hell, free is for me. Got it home, charged the batteries, drill does nothing. Took it apart thinking it was the switch, but upon testing it with a meter found there was corrosion on the bat terminals and the terminals in the drill, and it wasn't making a good connection. Cleaned everything, put it back together (no small feat PIA) and it works like a champ. Course now I have another battery platform, which I really don't need.