Even rechargeable batteries lose their efficiency over a long period of time. It may be time to get a new rechargeable battery.

Sounds like you have a memory issue with your battery, which is surprising as iPod bateries typically shouldn't have that issue. Try totally discharging the iPod... run it until it dies. Once it has it died, try turning it on over and over. Keep doing so until it no longer even attempts to flash up. Then recharge it fully and run it again until it dies. Recharge and do the same thing. With each subsequent discharge cycle your battery should hold more of a charge. If this isn't working then your battery has most likely reached the end of its "life cycle" and needs to be replaced. The typical "life cycle" of an iPod battery varies, but most are good for 3 to 5 years. Replacing an iPod battery is a pain-in-the-butt, but can be done. You can easily Google for replacement batteries from third party suppliers. And the actual procedure can be found on-line. It is a procedure, however, not recommended for the technically challenged. Apple makes the battery in an iPod non-user replaceable, because it figures that by the time the battery dies, most people will be looking to get a newer (and hopefully better) iPod anyway. Hope this helps.

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Hacking the hard drive will also extend battery life. All you do is buy a "compact flash card" and replace the "hard drive" with it. Very simple to do.