Ridgid cordless drill battery replacement

[expat]

I have suspected that one of the three batteries for my 18v cordless drill is not taking a full charge.
These batteries, and the Drill and charger are sopposed to be covered under lifetime warranty.

I will peruse it today.

Fingers crossed.

 

[JHZR2]

Let us know. Hd seems to offer a superior warranty to push these as a house brand.

 

[stephen9666]

It's not a lifetime warranty, it's a "lifetime service agreement." You have to jump through some hoops.

If you didn't properly register the tool when you bought it then you aren't eligible for the service agreement and you only have a 3-year warranty.

https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/three-year-limited-lsa

 

[expat]

I did register the purchase, it was back in 2010.

I have printed the proof of registration, and will take it to my local HD to see what they say.

I hope they do not want a receipt of purchase also, or I will really have to did into my paperwork.

 

[stephen9666]

It's not like a simple exchange, I don't believe. Normally, you have to take it to an approved service center.

Some guy on another forum was claiming many HDs are now considered service centers, but I haven't seen any official word on that.
Quote:
To obtain service for this RIDGID tool on either the 3-year limited warranty, the Lifetime Service Agreement, or the recon limited warranty, you must bring the equipment, to an authorized RIDGID service center. You may obtain the location of the authorized service center nearest you by logging on to the RIDGID website at www.ridgid.com.


The Ridgid website says the nearest service center to me is 26 miles away. None of the listed service centers in my area are HD stores.

 

[dirtymudder]

Back some years ago I bought 2 12 volt drills where I work. Back 5 years ago all of the batteries were going bad. I took it to the local Ridgid repair center and they had to order the batteries but all were covered under the "warranty". I tried last spring to get one replaced because it would not hold a charge. The guy at the repair place said good luck. Ridgid is not covering much of anything. So I called Ridgid and they said they had no record of my purchase. After banging my head against the wall I finally gave up and took the battery to a local battery shop and got it rebuilt for $38. Good luck on the psudo warranty.

 

[HerrStig]

Google the battery, and find one of the many vendors of replacement cell sets. You will probably need to solder, or find some one who can, but the price for the replacement cells will be good. To bad you don't live closer.

 

[Kruse]

I've know an electrician who has this Ridgid lifetime warranty on his cordless drill. He's had to have warranty work several times on the battery packs. While he hasn't been denied yet, he says the exchange is getting to be more and more of a hassle and there is a lot of red tape involved.
Make sure that you have followed the registration and warranty details to the letter before you go into the store for warranty work.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: dirtymudder
Back some years ago I bought 2 12 volt drills where I work. Back 5 years ago all of the batteries were going bad. I took it to the local Ridgid repair center and they had to order the batteries but all were covered under the "warranty". I tried last spring to get one replaced because it would not hold a charge. The guy at the repair place said good luck. Ridgid is not covering much of anything. So I called Ridgid and they said they had no record of my purchase. After banging my head against the wall I finally gave up and took the battery to a local battery shop and got it rebuilt for $38. Good luck on the psudo warranty.


When you get batteries replaced you also have to register the new batteries, I've read online. If you don't do that, the new batteries aren't covered under the lifetime service agreement.

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: dirtymudder
Back some years ago I bought 2 12 volt drills where I work. Back 5 years ago all of the batteries were going bad. I took it to the local Ridgid repair center and they had to order the batteries but all were covered under the "warranty". I tried last spring to get one replaced because it would not hold a charge. The guy at the repair place said good luck. Ridgid is not covering much of anything. So I called Ridgid and they said they had no record of my purchase. After banging my head against the wall I finally gave up and took the battery to a local battery shop and got it rebuilt for $38. Good luck on the psudo warranty.


When you get batteries replaced you also have to register the new batteries, I've read online. If you don't do that, the new batteries aren't covered under the lifetime service agreement.


True.

HD said that the battery will be replaced at an uthoeized service center, that's in the next town, about 45 minutes away.

It will be an over the counter exchange. The service center confirmed this, but told me they do not have a replacement in stock, at the moment but will phone me then one arrives on Wednesday or Thursday next week (this weekend is a Holiday weekend, so it throws things off)
All I need is to show my registration at time of pick up.

I will need to re register the new, replacement battery in order to continue with the lifetime warrany.

Fortunately, I have two other batteries, so down time is not an issue.

 

[Panzerman]

I actually tried this (under a controlled environment)but if you hit the bad batteries with a arc welder, it brings them back to life and they accept and hold a charge. Ground out on the negative and hit the positive with the welder, just a quick couple hits and its done. If your not adventuresome, its not for you.

 

[datech]

Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I actually tried this (under a controlled environment)but if you hit the bad batteries with a arc welder, it brings them back to life and they accept and hold a charge. Ground out on the negative and hit the positive with the welder, just a quick couple hits and its done. If your not adventuresome, its not for you.



very interesting. I have been thinking a lot of times the problem might be from the welded tabs that connect the cells. Maybe hitting it with the high voltage of the welder renews the connection? I've never tried it but I don't have a welder.

 

[spackard]

The welder's low voltage, high current burns the whiskers that form in Ni-Cd batteries. It's an old trick (I read it probably 35 years ago), though if you read about it in Popular Mechanics they suggest limiting the current to an amount much lower than a welder.

Give it a full charge afterwards; almost every cell is probably fully charged except for the one with the whiskers, which is fully discharged.

You only buy a little extra life. Eventually either the trick stops working or the cell leaks. Oh, and in the meantime your pack doesn't look bad so you won't get a warranty replacement.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I actually tried this (under a controlled environment)but if you hit the bad batteries with a arc welder, it brings them back to life and they accept and hold a charge. Ground out on the negative and hit the positive with the welder, just a quick couple hits and its done. If your not adventuresome, its not for you.
I'd be wearing eye protection.

 

[kc8adu]

dont try this with li-ion!
if you are lucky you will destroy the bms.
if unlucky you will cause a "venting with flame" event.good luck putting that out!
youtube is full of li-ion fires.
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I actually tried this (under a controlled environment)but if you hit the bad batteries with a arc welder, it brings them back to life and they accept and hold a charge. Ground out on the negative and hit the positive with the welder, just a quick couple hits and its done. If your not adventuresome, its not for you.