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My DeWalt brushless battery drill suddenly stopped working today while I was using it. There was no burning smell or strange noise, it just stopped.
When I pull the trigger the LED light comes on, but the motor doesn’t spin at all.
I’ve already tried:
checking the battery on another tool (works fine)
reseating the battery
trying a different battery
Since it’s a brushless drill, I know there aren’t carbon brushes like on corded drills, so I’m wondering if the problem might be something like:
the trigger switch
the electronic controller
or something else inside the drill
Has anyone had this happen with a brushless DeWalt drill before? Any suggestions on what to check first would be appreciated.
We have seen this happen a couple of times with brushless DeWalt drills and the symptoms you describe (LED comes on but no motor movement) usually point to the electronic side rather than the battery.
Since the LED still works, the battery and basic power supply are clearly reaching the tool. On brushless drills the trigger doesn’t directly power the motor like older brushed tools — instead it sends a signal to the electronic speed controller (ESC) which then drives the motor.
A few things you could check:
1. Forward / Reverse selector
It sounds simple, but sometimes the selector ends up sitting between positions. Try clicking it fully left and right a few times and then pull the trigger again.
2. Trigger switch module
Even though the LED works, the trigger unit itself can fail internally. In many modern drills the LED is powered separately from the motor control circuit, so it can still light up even if the motor control part of the trigger has failed.
3. Motor controller board
Brushless tools rely on a small controller board to drive the motor coils. If that board fails, the drill will appear completely dead even though the battery and trigger seem fine.
4. Protection lockout
Some DeWalt brushless tools will shut down if the electronics detect an overload or fault condition. Sometimes removing the battery for a minute or two can reset it.
If the drill is fairly new it might still be worth checking whether it’s under warranty, because replacing the trigger or control board can be more expensive than people expect.
From what you described though, the trigger assembly or controller board would be the first things we would suspect.
I’d agree with what Xcat team said — the fact the LED still comes on usually means the battery and basic power circuit are OK, so the fault is likely further down the chain.
I repair a few power tools for friends and neighbours and I’ve seen something very similar with brushless drills. One thing people often forget is that brushless tools rely heavily on electronics, so if the controller doesn’t detect the motor correctly it simply refuses to start.
A couple of additional things worth checking before opening the drill up:
1. Check the gearbox isn’t jammed
Try turning the chuck by hand with the battery removed. It should turn with some resistance but shouldn’t feel completely locked. If the gearbox jams the electronics sometimes prevent the motor from starting.
2. Mode selector (drill / hammer / clutch)
If the mode selector is sitting halfway between positions it can stop the tool working properly. I’ve had that happen once where it looked like the drill had died but it was just the selector not fully engaged.
3. Battery contacts
Even though the battery works in another tool, it’s worth checking the metal contacts inside the drill for dust or corrosion. A quick clean with a cotton bud and a bit of contact cleaner can help.
If it does turn out to be the trigger or control board, those parts are actually replaceable and there are plenty of guides online showing how to do it. The housings on DeWalt drills are usually just Torx screws and the whole thing splits open.
But like Xcat mentioned, if the drill isn’t that old it might be worth checking the warranty first, because DeWalt are usually pretty good with brushless tool repairs.
