Is your Ryobi 40v battery not charging? I have some good news for you; it is possible to fix most Ryobi 40V battery problems yourself.
Replacement batteries are certainly not cheap, and most of us will want to avoid the need to buy a new battery if at all possible.
Let’s take a look at the most common Ryobi 40V battery problems and how to fix them.
Use the following table to diagnose and jump to the relevant section quickly.
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Battery not charging | Faulty charger | Test with another battery or charger |
| Electronics issue | Power-cycle your charger by unplugging and waiting a minute | |
| Battery inserted incorrectly | Ensure battery is correctly inserted; press gray button(s) while inserting | |
| Corroded or dirty terminals | Clean with sandpaper, rubbing alcohol, or wire brush | |
| Extreme temperatures | Ensure battery temperature is between 32°F to 113°F | |
| Battery is old | If battery is 3-4 years old or has 300-500 cycles, consider replacement | |
| Charger lights flashing red and green | Battery in “sleep mode” | Try micro charges or jump-start with another battery or DC power supply |
| Reset the battery by accessing internal reset pins |
Faulty Ryobi Battery Charger
If your Ryobi 40V battery isn’t charging, check if the charger is faulty should be the first thing you do.
But, testing if the charger is faulty isn’t as easy as you might like it to be. This is because we can’t use a multimeter to test the voltage output of the charger.
Ryobi battery chargers have sensors to detect a connected battery. If the charger doesn’t sense a battery, the charger won’t give the correct voltage.
This may cause you to incorrectly identify the battery charger as being the problem.
Power-Cycle Your Charger
Electronics can sometimes act strangely, and Ryobi chargers are no exception.
If your Ryobi 40V battery isn’t charging, first try unplugging the charger, wait for about a minute, then plug it back in.
If this does not solve the problem, move on to the next steps.
How To Check If Your Battery Charger is Faulty
There are two ways that you can check if your battery charger is faulty or not.
You will need a second battery or charger to test the two methods below.
Many people do not have a second battery or charger on hand, so here are some ideas on how to get access to one:
- Go to your local Ryobi dealer and ask if you can test your battery on their display charger or similar
- Ask in your local Facebook groups if anyone has a charger or battery you can try.
- Ask your friends or neighbors if they have a compatible charger or battery pack.
Use Another Battery
Take another healthy 40V Ryobi battery and try charging it. If you have the same problem, the charger is likely faulty.
If the second battery charges fine, your charger is fine, and the battery itself is the problem.
Try Another Charger
You can also use another Ryobi battery charger to check if yours is faulty. This is likely the only way to get a definite answer without a second battery.
Plug your battery into the second charger. If the battery fails to charge or the charger shows an error, then your battery is faulty.
If the battery charges up correctly, then your battery charger is the problem.
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Ryobi Charger Flashing Red and Green – Battery in Sleep Mode
The most common cause for your Ryobi Charger flashing red and green lights is that the battery has been over-discharged.
This is commonly known as the battery is in “sleep mode”
Batteries often enter sleep mode when they’ve been used until completely dead and then stored without charging for a long period of time. The charge on the battery becomes so low that the charger cannot detect whether the battery is healthy or not.
The charger will stop charging and enter error mode to avoid damage to the charger from a faulty battery.
The problem with most Ryobi 40V chargers is that they don’t incorporate a “boost” feature that would allow a battery that has entered sleep mode to be woken up again.
Here are the best methods for fixing your Ryobi 40v battery that has entered sleep mode.
Micro Charges
This method is the easiest, safest and simplest method to try to revive your Ryobi battery that won’t charge.
Patience is required here – so read these instructions carefully and find somewhere comfortable to sit!
- Connect your charger to the power outlet
- Place the battery in the charger until the green indicator goes solid
- Just before the red/green lights start flashing, remove the battery from the charger
- Re-insert the battery into the charger again and repeat steps 2-3
- Do this until the green light flashes constantly (might take up to 30 minutes)
Why does this work? Each time you put the battery in the charger, the charger gives a small charge before sensing the battery is asleep.
So repeating this process over and over results in the battery slowly being charged in very small increments each time.
Eventually, this results in enough charge for the battery charger to resume normal charging operation.
It may sound crazy, but the graph above shows why it works. Also, take a look at the many pages of comments below this article to see just how often it actually works!
Also Read: Ryobi Pressure Washer Troubleshooting
Jump Starting With a Second Ryobi Battery
For this method, you will need:
- A second, healthy, and fully charged Ryobi 40v battery
- Some wire – standard speaker wire or similar will do the job
The method is as follows:
- Connect the positive (+) terminals from the healthy battery to the sleeping battery’s positive (+) terminal.
- Do the same with the negative (-) terminals.
- Leave the batteries connected for up to 20 minutes
- Disconnect and test the sleeping battery on the charger again
This method may be enough to kick your sleeping battery back into life.
Danger! As with any DIY fix with cordless tool batteries, these methods have some dangers.
Battery university recommends not boosting batteries that have been in sleep mode for a week or longer.
The video below shows in more detail how to do this.
Use a DC Power Supply To Jump Start Your 40V Battery
This method is essentially the same as using a second battery, but instead we use a DC power supply set at the same output voltage (40v)
You will need:
- A DC power supply capable of outputting 40 volts DC
- Some wire – standard speaker wire or similar will do the job
The method is as follows:
- Connect the positive (+) terminals from DC power supply output to the sleeping battery’s positive (+) terminal.
- Do the same with the negative (-) terminals.
- Leave the battery connected to the power supply for up to 20 minutes
- Disconnect and test the sleeping battery on the charger again
Reset the Battery
This method means you’ll open the battery to reach the internal reset parts and see the printed circuit board (PCB)
Danger: Lithium batteries can be dangerous when dismantling them. There is a danger of fire or injury – do not attempt this procedure if you are not qualified to do so.
You will need:
- A torx security screwdriver kit with a T10 size or a Phillips head screwdriver (depending on what screws are used in your battery)
- A short piece of insulated wire with stripped ends
1. Remove the screws holding on the plastic cover
Depending on the model of your battery, these screws may be a torx security screw or a standard Phillips head.
There will likely be four screws to remove, and some or all of them may be covered by a plastic plug or cover to access them.
2. Remove the cover
Once the screws are removed, you should be able to love the cover off.
You may need to cut the Ryobi sticker that goes over the seam between the cover and the base of the battery.
This should give you access to the battery PCB.
At this point you need to be very careful not to short-circuit any connections. Doing so could lead to a fire or electrical shock.
3. Locate The Reset Pins
The Ryobi 40v battery reset pins location depends on the model number.
You are looking for “pads” or pins labeled ‘RST’, ‘RES‘ or ‘RESET’
Your model of battery may be listed below, if not it is likely to look very similar – so follow the same instructions,
Model OP40501 and OP40401
Pin location:
Connect wire between: RST and GND
Model OP40602
Pin location:
Connect wire between: RESET and GND
Model OP40404
Pin location:
Connect wire between RES and GND
4. Short out the reset pins
Take your wire with stripped ends and very carefully connect the two reset pins.
Connect the reset pins for 2-3 seconds. You should notice that the lights on the battery pack light up. Now, remove the wire.
Be VERY careful not to short out any other pins or circuitry.
5. Test your battery
You can now reassemble your Ryobi battery (leave the screws out for now) and test if it charges correctly.
If it does, put the screws back in and celebrate!
There is also a good video on this process below.
Battery Inserted Incorrectly
It may seem obvious, but it is essential to ensure your battery is correctly inserted into the charger.
Most Ryobi 40v batteries have a gray button (or buttons) that should be pressed down when inserting the battery into the charger.
Push the gray buttons and slide the battery onto the charger – you should hear an audible click.
Corroded or Dirty Battery Terminals
If the metal contacts on the battery or charger become dirty or corroded, then it can cause the Ryobi charger to assume that the battery is faulty incorrectly.
If your terminals are corroded: then the corrosion can be removed with a piece of sandpaper or some rubbing alcohol and a Q tip.
Dirt on the terminals can be removed with a wire brush or an alcohol-soaked wipe or q tip.
Sometimes, getting to the actual terminals can be difficult because they are recessed. If this is the case you will need to try different tools or items to reach them for cleaning purposes.
Ryobi Battery Charging: Issues with Hot or Cold Temperatures
We like modern Li-Ion batteries, but they have issues old batteries didn’t face.
One of these is the narrower range of temperatures that they will operate and charge in: Li-Ion batteries will generally charge between 32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C).
So, the first thing to check if you are having problems with your Ryobi batteries is if they are indeed too hot or too cold.
If it is exceptionally cold where you usually store/charge your batteries, bring them inside and let them warm up to room temperature and then try charging them again.
If it is a hot day, or you have been using your batteries already and they are quite hot, try throwing them in the fridge, or taking them to a cooler area for a short amount of time before trying to charge them again.
Related Article: Ryobi 18v string Trimmer Troubleshooting
Is The Battery Too Old?
Unfortunately, it could simply be that your Ryobi tool’s 40-volt lithium-ion battery is simply getting old.
Typically, a Ryobi battery or any 40-volt lithium-ion battery maintains its performance for two to three years, or approximately 300 to 500 charge cycles.
One charge cycle describes the timeline between completely charging the battery, utilizing it until it’s fully discharged, and then charging it up once more.
Once your Ryobi 40-volt battery reaches its third or fourth year, you may begin noticing performance issues.
This could mean the battery’s inability to retain enough charge or, in more serious cases, it might fail to recharge entirely. Should you encounter this situation, replacing the old battery pack with a new one is recommended.
You can purchase a new battery here.
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What Do The Lights on My Charger Mean?
The lights on your Ryobi charger help you determine the problem with your 40v battery.
The following table is a generic guide as to what the red, green and orange lights mean on your charger:
| Battery Pack Condition | Red LED Status | Green LED Status | Orange LED Status | Action/Description |
| Power On | ON | OFF | OFF | Plugged into AC power supply without battery pack |
| Testing (Hot battery pack) | OFF | OFF | ON | When the battery pack reaches cooler temperature, the charger begins charge mode. |
| Testing (Cold battery pack) | OFF | OFF | ON | The charger conditions battery until normal voltage is reached, then begins charge mode. |
| Testing (Deeply discharged) | OFF | OFF | ON | The battery pack or charger is defective. |
| Defective | Flashing | Flashing | OFF | When the battery pack reaches a cooler temperature, the charger begins charge mode. |
Where Can I Buy Ryobi Replacement Parts?
If you need your replacement Ryobi 40V battery parts in a hurry, then you will want to head straight down to the closest supplier and buy it locally.
If you aren’t in too much of a rush and want to save some cash, consider purchasing from a reputable online store such as Amazon.
- Click here to see a selection of Ryobi 40V Batteries and Chargers.
- Also Available at Home Depot
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Ryobi cordless tool battery be repaired?
Yes, you can repair a Ryobi cordless battery. But, it might take too much time and effort.
Opening up the batteries can be difficult; depending on what part is faulty, it may be quite expensive to fix.
Remember that batteries can be dangerous, so it’s best to get a qualified technician to check the battery for you.
Is it OK to leave a Ryobi Lithium-Ion Battery On The Charger?
No, you should charge the battery after use until it is full, then remove it from the charger and store it in an area that doesn’t get too hot or cold.
The ideal battery storage temperature is around 59℉, but standard room temperature is usually fine.
I tried the “charging by increments” method on my 40 v battery as it was reading as defective and flashing between been and yellow, and it worked. I was quite motivated as I didn’t want to spend $240 for a new battery. It probably took 15 mins and it started charging. Thank you
Thats great news Jane, thanks for the feedback!
The micro charging worked. Thanks for saving me on buying a new battery. A little hack. I plugged it into an outlet with a wall switch so all I did was flip a switch instead of unplugging it again and again. Thanks again
I bet you haven’t heard this problem before3ah. I have a RYOBI Weed eater and the battery is broken on the back. Also, while trying to purchase a new battery, I can’t find a 40V 3ah. Does it matter if I purchase a 4ah?
As long as it has the same connections it will be fine, it will just be a little bulkier.
my problem is the battery will charge for a few minutes then the SOLID YELLOW (testing) light comes on and stays on. pushing the self test button on the battery flashes green for about 1 sec then goes dark. the battery will not operate anything.
Is the battery hot? Is the weather hot? I think that’s a heat error.
Salutations Mr. Green,
My ryobi 40v battery was working fine till it died. After leaving it on charger over night the charger light was green but the battery was dead. I charged my other battery and the charger worked fine. Every time I put the non working battery in the charger the light automatically went to green with the battery being dead. Is all hope lost with this battery? I’m hoping the jump start method from the working battery to dead battery will do the trick. If it doesn’t work, are there any other tricks to try?
Respectfully,
Frank
I want to caution anyone with a sleep mode Ryobi battery to immediately contact them and get them to take their battery back. We had two batteries stop charging after one use this summer and Ryobi was great about replacing them but didn’t want the two defective batteries back. We tucked them aside thinking we could try some of the tips on getting them out of sleep mode, but none worked, so we figured we’d recycle them when we had time as battery recycling in our area requires an appointment. A few days ago, I came into a room to find our storage room filled with smoke. The battery was actively spewing smoke into the room and had a melted area in the casing. The fire department came out and took care of it, but I’m still working to get the melted plastic smell out of the items that were in the storage area. I’m trying to get Ryobi to deal with this, but they directed me to another company and they haven’t responded yet.
Ok, here’s what I tried. I tried the good battery to sleeping battery mode. I left them connected for about 40 minutes. Tested the voltage on the sleeping battery and it was reading over 40 volts. So I put it on the charger and it goes red and green. I removed and put the volt meter to it and it read less than 1 volt. So then I tried the insert remove method for about 1 or 2 minutes and tested voltage again. It read a little over 20 volts. I thought alright. So I inserted on battery charger and left it in and it went to red and green again. Tested voltage and it was a little over 1 volt. So I don’t know why it takes in a the voltage but discharges it really quick. Any ideas?
I used fix option #1 and it took 57 times of plugging and unplugging until it started charging but as I sit here right now it is flashing green!
In my situation, the mower quit unexpectedly so I thought the battery was hot. Turns out that had probably not charged it from the last use and it was completely exhausted and I let it sit that way for a few days.
I applied fix 1 by leaving the charger body attached to the battery and pulling the plug in and out. The light very briefly turned orange (testing) at first then instantly switched to red (power on). I left it there for just a second and unplugged it. I repeated that process 20 times and then decided to give it a go. It still flashed red and green (defective). I stuck with it and on the 37th time of the second set I noticed that the light turned green (ready) as I was pulling the plug out of the charger body. I plugged it back in and it went straight to flashing green (charging).
Thanks for the article, this just saved me a hassle and a bunch of money!
Battery not charging. Should lights on charger flash red and green with no battery in it? Does the same thing with battery in charger. 40 volt lawn mower about 2 years old.
Hi,
I plug in my 40V 6ah battery and it turns red, then flashes green and red. Any thoughts on how to help?
I wanted to add to my original comment. I just tested the voltage. From + to – the voltage only reads 13V but from + to T1 it reads 40V. Maybe this will help.
Fantastic. Thanks Aaron. The incremental plugging in and removal worked. The charger finally recognized the battery after 45 seconds of doing this procedure.
Hello Aaron, we have a Ryobi brushless 36V blower/vac, 2014 model. For the last 18 months, every time I use the blower, the battery connection points seem to overheat to the point where the plastic at the battery connection points is melting on both sides – the battery side and the connection point at insert on the blower. Battery charges no problems whatsoever.
That does seem like something is wrong – I’m guessing it’s probably the battery itself. I would recommend you replace it asap!
Thanks for this. I had a knock-off battery that stopped accepting a charge on the charger. Zero voltage registering on the multimeter. 2 green lights flashing when I pressed the button on the battery, and the charger was flashing red/green. I first tried the reset jumper, but, I don’t think the battery had enough left to manage it. I boosted it for about 10 minutes with another 40V battery. That stopped the flashing, but, the charger still wouldn’t charge. I finally went to the plug/unplug method, until I could see I had charged enough to get to the point that the third battery light was lit. When I plugged it in and left, it just kept charging – no more red/green flashing, and my battery seems to be behaving better.
I have a 40 v, 2.6 amp battery that is fully charged but now either won’t stay in the trimmer (simply falls out when the trimmer is upright), or if it locks in the trimmer, it is very hard to get out. In other words, the latching mechanism isn’t working. What can I do?
It sounds like either the mechanism on the trimmer or the battery needs a clean!
Hey Aaron, thanks so much for sharing your expertise. My Ryobi battery was flashing red/green and I tried tip 3. After about 5 or 6 insertions it started charging away happily. Thanks so much 🙂
Awesome suggestions. Option 3, after about 15 minutes of plugging/unplugging worked for me.
Thanks for the help.
My battery stopped working whilst I was using the sander. No lights come on when I press the button. Solid red light remains on when charging. Sometimes if I bash the battery a little it works again and shows full green lights. But after a few seconds in the sander (or any tool that shakes) it stops working again. Bought a new battery which worked fine for a while but exact same thing has happened now. Any idea of a fix? Thanks so much.
Thanks. Option 1 worked for me!
I have a OP4026 battery, out of warranty, that will give flashing red/green lights on the charger. None of the standard options will allow it to charge. I have seen on Youtube some fixes to reset the controller board.
Does the RST(reset) terminal need to be grounded momentarily or touched to 3.3V momentarily to make it reset?