Replies

1. 
   cap | Oct 11, 2010 03:21pm | #1

   It's telling you...

   that it's time for service.  Or a new drill.  The first thing to fail on cordless tools is usually the switch.  The symptoms in your drills case suggest it may be a bearing or a bent drive train. 

   If it's not practical to take or send it to a Panasonic service center, you can field strip it and see if there's anything obvious.

   Open the case.  Inspect the wiring, look for loose connections.  Inspect the gear train and bearings.  Rotate the chuck gingerly.  Blow out the insides.  Reassemble.  If the tool has been dropped and the drive train thrown out of alignment, a disassembly/reassembly might possibly allow things to go back into alignment.  If there's no improvement--I'd buy a new tool.

   Good luck--

   Cliff

2. 
   MarkH | Oct 11, 2010 05:54pm | #2

   Worn brushes sounds likely to me.  Some drills have external holders, some don't.  Either way, they may be hard to get.

3. 
   [email protected] | Oct 12, 2010 02:55pm | #3

   Brushes or commutator

   Either the brushes or commutator, or both are wearing out.  If turning the drill a bit by hand gets it to start, my guess is the commutator. 

4. 
   czella | Oct 12, 2010 06:12pm | #4

   6 years............

   That isn't too bad.....   no complaints.

   Time for a new one.

   Thanks guys,

   CZ.

5. 
   DanH | Oct 12, 2010 08:29pm | #5

   When it won't start, is it physically jammed or can you turn it by hand?  If it's jammed (and you can hear the motor trying to turn) then it's the gears, if you can turn it (in the direction you want) by hand (and you don't hear the motor trying to turn until you do) then it's likely the motor.

   Motor problem could be bad brushes, but seems unlikely given "moderate use".  But it's worth a shot at replacing the brushes.

   If it seems to be the gears then if you're handy you may want to take apart the gears, clean them, and relubricate -- sometimes a piece of grit in the wrong place can cause lockup.