There should be no doubt in your mind that DeWalt Drills are built tough.
But when your DeWalt drill is not working, then you need answers, and you need them fast.
A common cause of a cordless DeWalt drill not working, is a bad battery. Check if the battery is fully charged, as you may have a faulty charger. Next, test the battery on another device to replicate the problem. If the problem persists, check whether the drill works with a new battery.
DeWalt battery chargers are designed to recharge batteries within a range of 65°F and 75°F (18°- 24°C). This ensures that the batteries last the longest with the least number of hassles.
Charging your DeWalt battery pack in extreme air temperatures is just asking for trouble. You can cause serious damage or total battery failure.
You should never charge your battery packs if the air temperature drops below 40°F (4.5°C). It is also recommended that you avoid charging the battery packs when the ambient temperature exceeds 105°F (40.5°C).
DeWalt chargers feature a Hot/Cold Pack Delay.
While it is normal for batteries to heat up as they charge, excessive heat damages them. To avoid this, DeWalt chargers suspend charging when they detect that the battery has reached an unsafe temperature.
Once the battery cools down, the charger switches to Pack Charging mode and completes the charge. Look for the red light flashing long and short to confirm that the delay is activated.
Over time, your battery will discharge and require recharging. To avoid this, you can leave it in the charger. This is safe to do and won’t damage the battery. The red light will continue to glow and the charger will regulate the battery.
You can store the battery in the charger indefinitely, ready for its next use.
DeWalt Drill Won’t Turn On
DeWalt drills have a reputation for reliability and ruggedness.
However, they are prone to misuse as well as wear and tear issues that can cause them to malfunction.
If your DeWalt drill won’t turn on, replace the battery. If it’s still not working, check that the battery has clean contact with the power terminals in the handle. Vibration may have broken the signal wires at the soldered connector inside the handle. Finally, the trigger switch could be damaged.
The most likely reason that your drill won’t operate is because of a discharged battery. The moment you feel the drill struggling to drive screws or drill bits, change out your battery for a fully charged pack.
This will prevent damage to your drill and the material you are working with.
You may also find that dust or debris builds up in the contacts, causing intermittent connection problems. There are even cases of steel wool causing shorts, so it’s a good idea to give the battery and the drill a good clean when on site.
The contact block does have some play built into it, but it can become worn over time. The loose fit may cause the battery to move away from the contacts when rotating the drill vertically.
A common problem found in the 20V power tools relates to the wear and tear caused by constant vibration. If you often use the hammer setting to drive masonry bits, the signal wires can crack inside the drill handle.
If you have access to a Torx set, then opening the drill case is easy. Remove the contact block and peel back the insulation on the two innermost connectors. Cracking usually occurs just above the soldered connection where the wire is no longer covered with solder.
The insulation keeps the wires in contact but any movement causes the gap to open up, which results in the drill failing to turn on. Resoldering the connection usually solves the problem.
Dewalt Drill Light Comes On But Not Working
If your drill’s light comes on but it isn’t working, the battery might be depleted or not properly connected. Ensure the battery is fully charged and securely attached to the drill. If it’s loose or not seated correctly, the light might turn on, but the drill won’t operate.
Another reason your drill might not be working even if the light is on is due to a faulty trigger switch. Over time, the trigger switch can wear out or become damaged, preventing the drill from operating. To fix this, the switch may need to be replaced. Always ensure the drill is unplugged or the battery is removed before attempting any repairs.
DeWalt Drill Clutch Not Working
Correct clutch settings allow you to correctly apply just enough pressure to get the job done. You will also not damage the material or fittings you are using.
The clutch settings determine how much resistance the drill will overcome before slipping.
If a DeWalt drill clutch is not working, it could be on the wrong setting or worn out. The drill and hammer modes are the last 2 settings on the collar and both disable the clutch. You can replace a worn clutch by removing the screws holding it in place. Slide it off and replace it with a new one.
One of the benefits of buying a quality drill is that the parts are designed for replacement when they wear out.
DeWalt drills are held together by Torx screws. So, if you have a set, then you can disassemble it and replace the worn-out parts fairly easily.
A quick tip to make changing the clutch quick and simple is to ensure that your new part and the drill’s clutch settings are the same before dismantling it. Then you just have to align the new assembly with very little movement of the chuck before it slides into place.
Then tighten the screws and test your drill.
If you have a drill fitted with the e-clutch, you may think that it is broken if you’re not used to the way it works. Once the torque builds up and the clutch disengages, you’ll be used to the sound of clicking as the clutch slips.
The e-clutch merely cuts off the power and the drill will stop turning. There is no constant clicking sound to let you know that the clutch is activating.
DeWalt Drill Has No Torque/Losing Torque
DeWalt drills are designed for the demanding contractor or tradesman. There just isn’t time to waste on inferior power tools that break or wear out after heavy use.
Your ability to control the power tool’s torque impacts the safety and the quality of your finished project.
If your DeWalt drill has no torque or is losing torque, then the clutch is probably worn out. The clutch settings determine how much torque is transferred to the hardware you are installing. Long-term usage will wear the components down. Clutch replacement is a quick and easy DIY project.
Newer DeWalt drill models do not have a screw holding the chuck in place. This means that you have to remove the clutch assembly using the four screws that are located behind the clutch collar.
To confirm that your chuck is not held in place with a screw, open the jaws fully and shine a light inside. You should only see the end of the spindle. Older models may have an anti-clockwise screw that you must remove to get the chuck off.
Once the screws are removed, the clutch and chuck slide out of the drill body as a single unit, with very little resistance.
DeWalt Drill Won’t Change Speed
High-speed, low torque applications use DeWalt’s number 3 setting. Settings 2 and 1 are used for applications where you need progressively greater control and higher torque.
When a DeWalt drill won’t change speed, you can replace the variable speed switch. Open the housing and remove the motor and clutch assemble. Disconnect both brush holders’ wiring. Replace the old switch and LED light with a new one. Replace the components in reverse order and test the drill.
Once the drill housing is open, you’ll need to unscrew the strap holding the motor and clutch assembly.
Keep track of the position of the brush holders as they are not the same on each side. The lighter-colored wire is reserved for the left side brush holder. You may need needle nose pliers to ensure that the brush connections are snuggly in place.
When replacing the motor assembly, ensure that the gear selector is correctly aligned. And finally, make sure that none of the wires are pinched and that they’re located in the grooves and spaces designed for them.
DeWalt Drill Won’t Turn To Hammer
The hammer mode is responsible for most of the wear and tear on the drill due to its vibration.
When a DeWalt drill won’t turn to hammer mode, then it is most likely that the hammer selection collar is stuck. Disassemble the drill and clean the clutch collar mechanism. Give it a light grease or if it’s worn out you will have to replace the mechanism.
DeWalt Drill Brake Not Working
Cordless drill brakes are great safety features that prevent injury or damage to work surfaces.
When a DeWalt drill brake is not working, the trigger switch is the problem. If the switch is worn or dirty, it won’t short the motor terminals, which causes the motor to stop turning instantly. To fix the problem, open the drill housing and clean out the switch or replace the switch if it’s broken.
When you close up the housing after cleaning the trigger switch, ensure that the wires are correctly routed. Otherwise, they’ll get pinched and give you more problems later on.
DeWalt Drill Beeping And Not Working
Nothing is more frustrating than when your power tool beeps and there’s no indication of what the problem is.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on March 11, 2022.
When your DeWalt drill beeps and isn’t working it is most likely an undercharged battery. Try another fully charged battery in your drill or put the battery back into the charger. If the beeping continues, then return the drill to the DeWalt service center for repair or replacement under warranty.
DeWalt has a robust warranty program that covers you when the drill is new and does not perform as expected.
DeWalt Drill Light Won’t Turn Off
It is not uncommon for older drills to develop problems as they age.
Most of the problems related to the wear and tear of connectors are caused by vibrations.
If your DeWalt light won’t turn off it’s a sign of worn connectors or exposed wiring. Open up your drill and locate the LED wiring and connector. Unplug the connector and check that the wires are secure and that the wire’s insulation is intact. Replace the wiring and LED if it’s worn or broken.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on March 11, 2022.
If you are familiar with a multimeter and can do simple electronic repairs, then this is an easy DIY fix.
Check the circuit continuity to isolate the problem and either re-solder the connectors or replace the LED and its wiring.
DeWalt Drill Light On Or Flashing But Not Working
Should your drill not work, the first thing you should look at is the state of your battery.
Not only old DeWalt batteries give problems. Charge your battery overnight and then try it in your drill. If the light comes on or flashes but the drill fails to rotate, then it’s most likely a problem with the signal wires. They may have worn through or the soldered connections cracked.
If your torque is set at the minimum setting, then the drill may not rotate, even though the light is on. Try increasing the torque and speed to see if that might fix the problem.
You may also find that the trigger switch is dirty or broken. Open up the drill and clean it out. You can then check to see if there are any obvious problems with the switch and replace it if it is not fixable.
How To Turn Off Light On DeWalt Drill
Having lights on your drill is handy in dark spaces.
But there may be occasions when you don’t want it off or just want to save battery life.
If you’re wondering how to turn off the light on a DeWalt drill, you have to open up the drill. Then unplug the wire that connects the LED light to the trigger switch. Don’t worry that it may drain your battery, as the amount of energy required to power the LED light is minimal.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on March 11, 2022.