Need some deeper insight.

Hi there...

I have had a 2nd hand 30gb ipod video (5th generation I believe) for the last year. It was fine till recently when it developed a wierd problem that not even the Apple guys in Bristol had seen before.

This is the problem: When the hold switch is in off position and I click the wheel to start her up, she lights up but as soon as I release the click wheel she cuts out Whats even stranger is that when I move the the hold switch into lock position she starts up -automatically - but I can't do anything because the wheel is locked. As soon as I slide the switch back into the off position she cuts out again.

Very wierd, now listen to this... If the hold switch is in the lock position, it turns itself on, I then hold down the clickwheel on any 'corner' & swith over to the off position without releasing the wheel, it stays on. While still holding I can use the other 3 corner functions but very limited & no scroll function. I can get it to start playing my playlist (over 6000 tracks) from the begining every time but that is pointless. Due to doing resets & diagnostics at the begining of this endevour it restored to factory settings and is therefore not on the shuffle function.

I now have the Ipod very neatly disassembled in front of me. I do work on circuit boards & components, amps, etc. I am a film & theatre lighting technician/operator by trade. I used Youtube video tutorials to help me take it apart but nothing seems wrong...yet. I have removed the switch from the outer casing but not actually opened it yet.

I thought that before I go any further, because I'm not really sure what to look for now, I should ask if anybody has experienced this problem before? Also if anybody has any suggestions, ideas, knowledge, It would be most welcome.

This has become a labour of love. I do like the little thing and she keeps my van full of tunes during the summer.

Thanx for your time.

Shaun