My Ryobi pressure washer is making grinding noises and barely spraying - is it toast?

Hey guys, my Ryobi 2300 psi pressure washer is acting up. It's about 3 years old, used maybe 20 times total. Last weekend I fired it up to clean my deck and it started making this awful grinding noise from the pump area. The pressure is super weak now - barely a trickle compared to what it used to be. No weird smells or smoke, but the noise is concerning. Is this something fixable or should I just start shopping for a new one? Don't really wanna drop $300+ if I can avoid it.

OP, sounds like you might have pump issues. I've seen this with a few pressure washers on job sites. First thing - did you run it without water flowing? That's a common killer. The grinding noise could be worn bearings or seals in the pump. Before you junk it, check the inlet filter for debris and make sure all connections are tight. Also, did you winterize it properly? If water froze in the pump last winter, that could've cracked something internally.

DemoDave's on the right track. As a home inspector, I see a lot of poorly maintained pressure washers. That grinding noise is usually bad news - often means internal damage. Ryobi's are decent for homeowner use but their pumps aren't industrial grade. Check if there's any play in the pump shaft by wiggling it. If it moves more than 1/8 inch, bearings are shot. Replacement pumps for that model run about $120-150, plus your time. At 3 years old, might be worth just upgrading to something better.

HVAC guy here - we use pressure washers for coil cleaning all the time. Grinding noise + low pressure = pump failure 90% of the time. Try this: disconnect the output hose and run it for 10 seconds into a bucket. If the flow is weak, it's definitely the pump. Ryobi parts are pretty available online. I'd search for "Ryobi [model number] pump rebuild kit" - usually comes with seals and bearings for around $60. YouTube has good tutorials. Cheaper than a new unit if you're handy. Just wear safety glasses when you open it up - those springs can fly!