My rotary tool is acting possessed - sparking and making death noises

Hey guys, need some help with my cordless rotary tool. It's about 2 years old, been through some projects but nothing crazy. Lately it's been acting up - sparking from the motor area when I start it, won't hold a charge more than 5 minutes, and makes this weird grinding/wobbling noise when it runs. Battery is fully charged but it just dies mid-use. Is this thing toast or is there a fix? Don't really wanna drop $150 on a new one if I can avoid it.

Sounds like multiple issues. Sparking means brushes are shot or there's carbon buildup. Wobbling could be bent spindle or worn bearings. Not holding charge is either battery or internal wiring. At 2 years with regular use, you're probably looking at $80+ in parts and labor if you can even find someone to fix it. Cheaper to replace. I've killed 3 of these things on concrete jobs - they're disposable tools once the bearings go.

Dan's right about replacement being cheaper, but if you're handy you might salvage it. First thing - pull the brushes and check them. If they're worn down to nubs, that's your sparking. Replacement brushes are like $15 online. The wobble... could be the collet nut isn't tight or the bit is bent. Try a different bit first. Battery issue might just be dirty contacts - clean the battery terminals with some sandpaper. I've revived a few tools this way when doing tile work.

LOL sounds like my last relationship. But seriously - that grinding noise is bad news. Probably bearings are shot from dust getting in there. Once you get metal-on-metal grinding, the tool's days are numbered. I'd check if it's still under warranty first. Some brands have 3-year warranties. If not, time for a new one. Pro tip: buy the brushless version next time - less sparking issues.

Before you trash it, try this: take it apart completely (unplug battery first obviously). Blow out all the dust with compressed air. Check for loose wires. The sparking might just be carbon dust bridging contacts. I've saved two tools this year doing this. The battery not holding charge - might need a new battery, not a new tool. See if you can borrow a buddy's battery to test. If it runs fine with a different battery, you just need a $40 battery instead of a whole new tool.