My car vac is acting possessed - sparking and making weird noises!

Hey guys, my old cordless car vacuum (brand: DustBuster Pro) is going nuts. Started making a grinding noise yesterday, then today it sparked when I turned it on. Battery barely holds charge anymore - dies after like 2 minutes. Also wobbles when running. Is this thing toast or worth fixing? It's about 3 years old.

Rob, sounds like multiple failures at once. The sparking could be brush arcing in the motor - those wear down over time. Wobbling might be a bent impeller or worn bearings. Battery degradation after 3 years is normal for cheap Li-ion packs. Honestly, with all those symptoms together, might be cheaper to replace than repair parts. Check if the motor housing is cracked too.

Before you toss it, open it up! I've fixed a few vacs with similar issues. The sparking is probably carbon brush dust buildup - clean the commutator with electrical contact cleaner. Wobble could just be debris stuck in the fan. Battery might be salvageable if it's just one bad cell in the pack. But if the motor armature is damaged, it's dead. Post pics of the internals!

lol my shop vac does that daily and still works. But for a car vac... that sparking ain't good near upholstery! DemoDave's right about replacement cost. Those DustBuster Pros go on sale at Tool Discount Club all the time. I'd say if you're not comfortable taking apart small motors, just grab a new one. Safety first, brother!