There’s a fine number of things that can go wrong with a drill. From the light on it to the motor inside, there are so many different, important components to watch out for.
Have trouble telling what might be wrong, or have a specific issue in mind? I’ll cover a bunch of the most common DeWALT drill problems and their troubleshooting tips below to help with that.
5 Common DeWALT Drill Problems and Their Troubleshooting Tips
- Jammed Trigger
Does the trigger jam whenever you’re trying to press it? That sounds like a drill that hasn’t been cleaned properly in a while.
Excess dirt can cause this problem because it causes jamming in the trigger mechanism. Gunk can get inside the crevices around the trigger, restricting its movement.
When that happens, the trigger will start to jam. In the worst cases, it’ll be so bad that users can’t press the trigger fully. Something as small as that stops the whole drill from working.
Look at how I’ve got my DeWALT drill open in the image above. That’s what I want you to do too. That’ll help get a much better view of the trigger’s situation.
Press it around a little after opening the covers. Can you see anything in particular that may be causing the jamming? If so, get it out and everything should be fine.
Even if you don’t see anything, use some compressed air to blow off the dust around the trigger. That’ll help get it clean and get rid of whatever was jamming it, hopefully.
- Drill Light Stays On
This is a really common complaint among DeWALT drill users. But, the reason why it’s common is because a lot of people don’t know this is something that happens intentionally.
If you have one of the newer DeWALT drills, they’ll keep their light on for around 20 seconds after you release the trigger. While that may seem like a fault, it’s fully meant to happen.
It’s to help users when they’re working in dark corners, so they don’t have to hold the trigger and drain the battery for the light. So, check if it’s an intentional feature with your model before worrying.
You can see how I’m not using the light is shining in the picture up there, even though I’m not using my DeWALT drill. It goes off on its own once 20 seconds pass.
But, if this isn’t something that’s supposed to happen with your tool, I suggest checking the wiring. There may be a wire near the trigger that’s drawing power even though it shouldn’t be and this makes the light stay on.
The wire I’m talking about leads from the trigger to the flashlight. Use a multimeter to find out if it’s drawing power without pressing the trigger, and replace it if it is.
- Drill Won’t Turn On
If there’s nothing wrong with the trigger but your DeWALT drill still doesn’t seem to turn on, I’d check the battery. It’s the likeliest culprit for this happening.
I’m not pointing out the obvious and saying that the battery needs charging. No, what I mean, is that the battery may be faulty. DeWALT batteries, like any other, do get worse with age.
A battery with low capacity can’t power a heavy-duty tool like these drills. I guess using a different battery to see if it’s a problem specifically with your current one is the best bet.
If the drill seems to not work only with your current battery, you know what that means. It’s time to get a new battery, because this one won’t cut it anymore.
But before you buy a new DeWALT battery, you may want to try to reset it first. I have made a short video that shows how you can do this and you can watch it below.
You’ll need another DeWALT battery with similar specifications in order to do this. Connect the B+ and B- terminals of the two batteries.
Press the battery indicator to make sure it is receiving power while it is connected to the other battery. Jump start it for few seconds and the reset is done.
I also have a video which shows how you can fix a DeWALT battery if it doesn’t fully charge. You can watch this video down below.
Related: DeWALT Battery Won’t Hold Charge: Reasons
In the video, you’ll see the charger showing a solid red light which means the battery should be fully charged but this is not really the case. When I pressed the battery indicator, it’s only charged up to 2 bars.
In order to fix this, I also reset the problematic battery. The procedure is just the same as above and you could just follow it.
- Drill Chuck Won’t Tighten
Can’t use a drill without a drill chuck. That’s exactly why it’s a big deal when you can’t tighten the one on your DeWALT drill. If you’re having trouble with that, check for corrosion.
Corrosion is the most common reason for issues around the head of a drill, including problems with the chuck itself. Working around water or any damp environment will cause this.
Look at my drill’s chuck in the photo below. It’s clean, and doesn’t have any signs of rusting. That’s what you need to watch out for when the drill chuck won’t tighten.
It doesn’t have to be just corrosion either. Any kind of mess or hindrance around the drill chuck can stop it from sitting right on the head. Basically, it’s not going to tighten.
In case you notice any corrosion, use something like WD-40 to clean around the drill chuck. Wipe away all the rusting and smooth out the surface of the chuck.
Do the same around the head where the drill chuck sits, just as a precaution. With a thorough cleaning, the drill chuck will tighten. But, in case it still doesn’t, that may mean the chuck is damaged.
High friction can ruin the shape of these things after a while. Try a different chuck to see if that one tightens fine. In case it does, you’ll know it’s time to switch to a new one.
Related: DeWALT Drill Bit Stuck in Chuck: Ways to Fix
- Drill Performance Is Weak
Some DeWALT drills have multiple settings, for different situations. If you don’t use the right one for the situation it’s meant for, then the drill will struggle with its performance.
Now, you may just be choosing the wrong mode between drilling, screwing, and driving. Then, there’s even more options with the speed and torque.
If you’re a new user and your drill isn’t working right, don’t be too worried about it. Just mess around with the settings and do some more research about the tool you’re using.
As you learn more about it, and what to do with it, you’ll face less of these issues. So, while this is a common complaint, it’s not often one that has to do with the tool itself.
However, if you’re an experienced user and the drill still isn’t performing well for you, then that may be because of the motor inside. It’s not producing the right amount of torque.
Related: What to Do if DeWALT Drill Smoking: Solutions I Recommend
You can do one of two things; either get a replacement for the motor, or purchase a new drill. Either way, without a functioning motor, it won’t perform well.
My Dewalt impact does not hold the bits, n another one even with a good battery will not even turn the light on. Now on some it will not hold the screw bits or other bits. Thank you nand hope you can help me.