My Ryobi pressure washer is making a weird grinding noise and barely spraying - is it toast?

Hey guys, my Ryobi 2000 psi electric pressure washer is acting up. It's about 2 years old, used maybe 10 times total. Last weekend I went to clean my deck and it started making this awful grinding noise like metal on metal. The spray is super weak now - barely comes out. No visible leaks. Tried different nozzles, same issue. Is this something fixable or should I just toss it and buy a new one? Hate to waste a tool if it's an easy fix.

Sounds like your pump is shot, buddy. Those Ryobi electric units have plastic pumps that don't last. Grinding noise = probably the pistons or seals are gone. I had a similar issue with mine last season. You could try replacing the pump assembly - they sell kits online for like $60-80. But honestly, for what you'll spend on parts and time, might be better to upgrade to a gas model. Electric ones are fine for light duty but they don't hold up.

Steve's probably right about the pump, but before you junk it, check the obvious stuff. Did you winterize it last year? Any chance there's debris stuck in the inlet filter? Sometimes a little piece of grit can mess up the whole flow. Also, make sure your water supply is full pressure - my neighbor spent an hour troubleshooting his washer only to realize his outdoor spigot was barely on lol. If it's not that simple, yeah, pump replacement or new tool time.

Two years? That's about right for those homeowner-grade electrics. On the roof we use gas-powered commercial units exclusively - they just last. If you're set on fixing it, YouTube has some decent tear-down vids for Ryobi pressure washers. Might be a worn seal or even just a clog. But if the pump housing is cracked or the motor bearings are gone, it's scrap metal. Personally, I'd take it as an excuse to upgrade to at least a 3000 psi gas model. More power, longer life.

Ugh, pressure washers are such a pain! I feel you, OP. My husband's Craftsman did the same thing last summer. We ended up taking it apart (watch a video first - there's springs in there that can fly everywhere!) and found the main seal was completely shredded. Ordered a $15 seal kit from Amazon and had it running in an hour. Definitely try the simple fixes first - check for clogs, make sure you're not using a crazy long hose that's killing pressure. If it's grinding though, that's usually internal damage. Good luck!