Why won't my drill's battery hold a charge?

Hey everyone, been using my trusty 18V drill for a few years now, but the battery just died on me mid-project. Tried charging it, but the charger says it's fully charged though it won't run. Anyone else had this? Is it just time for a new battery?

Probably. Batteries only last so many cycles. But before tossing it, try cleaning the contacts with some rubbing alcohol. Also, make sure the charger is actually working with another battery if you have one. Sometimes it's the charger, not the battery.

If it's an older NiCd battery, you might have a 'memory effect'. Try a full discharge and recharge cycle. But if it's Li-ion, they just die suddenly. Check if the battery has a BMS (Battery Management System) that might be tripped - sometimes you can reset it by leaving it on the charger overnight.

Thanks for the tips! I'll try cleaning the contacts and the discharge cycle. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll bite the bullet and get a new one. Any recommendations for a decent budget battery?

I've had good luck with aftermarket batteries from Amazon, but make sure you check the reviews. Also, some stores have warranty on batteries, so check that first. Don't go cheap on a random brand though, you'll get what you pay for.