Connectivity Problems After a few hours (sometimes less) the iPod stops recognizing the sled. Is this a battery issue? Documentation says it's supposed to last 8 hours.

Try replacing the batteries.

This can be caused by many problems, it's a bit like saying my car won't start but here is a suggestion or two that might help.
your ipod might not have been used for a while, in which case the battery goes flat, big time.
I have repaired a few ipods in my time and what I do is plug a dead ipod into my computer and leave it connected for a while but make sure that the ipod does not get hot, slightly warm is ok.
while your battery is below an acceptable level the computer will not recognize you have connected your ipod.
give it about half an hour but keep an eye on the temperature of the ipod.
if you get a medium wave radio and tune it to a blank station and sit your ipod on top when you connect your ipod to the computer you should hear a continuous hissing, if you hear the hiss going on and off you might have a battery problem and it might need replacing.
if your ipod does start to come alive you will hear all kinds of sounds beeps whistles coming out of your radio just before the screen comes on telling you the battery is low and it is charging.

hope this helps

Like all electronic devices, iPods sometimes freeze and become unresponsive.
Sometimes iPods lock up when they're dropped on the ground or come in contact with water, but less destructive accidents may also cause them to stop working.
All versions of the iPod have a way to reset their hardware should they stop playing music or refuse to turn off.

Check the "Hold" switch on the top case of your iPod to be sure it isn't activated.
An iPod will appear frozen and unresponsive if this feature is activated.
A lock symbol will appear on your iPod's screen if it is in Hold mode.
Switch the "Hold" button on and off once. Place one finger on the "Menu" button and another on the center button.

Press both buttons at the same time and hold them for up to 8 seconds.
Release the "Menu" and center buttons once the Apple logo appears on your iPod's screen.
Try releasing the buttons and pressing and holding them a second time if the logo does not appear, as it can sometimes take several tries to reset a severely frozen iPod.
Press and hold the top button and the center "Home" button on a frozen and unresponsive iPod touch to reset it.
Hold the buttons for at least 10 seconds and wait for the Apple logo to appear on the screen, then release the buttons.
Connect your iPod to its powerblock or a computer if it is still frozen.
Wait 5 minutes and then try to reset it.
Sometimes an iPod can appear frozen when its battery runs out and just needs a few minutes of power to start working again.

Step 1:
Like all electronic devices, iPods sometimes freeze and become unresponsive. Sometimes iPods lock up when they're dropped on the ground or come in contact with water, but less destructive accidents may also cause them to stop working. All versions of the iPod have a way to reset their hardware should they stop playing music or refuse to turn off.

Check the "Hold" switch on the top case of your iPod to be sure it isn't activated. An iPod will appear frozen and unresponsive if this feature is activated. A lock symbol will appear on your iPod's screen if it is in Hold mode. Switch the "Hold" button on and off once. Place one finger on the "Menu" button and another on the center button. Press both buttons at the same time and hold them for up to 8 seconds. Release the "Menu" and center buttons once the Apple logo appears on your iPod's screen. Try releasing the buttons and pressing and holding them a second time if the logo does not appear, as it can sometimes take several tries to reset a severely frozen iPod. Press and hold the top button and the center "Home" button on a frozen and unresponsive iPod touch to reset it. Hold the buttons for at least 10 seconds and wait for the Apple logo to appear on the screen, then release the buttons. Connect your iPod to its powerblock or a computer if it is still frozen. Wait 5 minutes and then try to reset it. Sometimes an iPod can appear frozen when its battery runs out and just needs a few minutes of power to start working again.

Sometimes your iPod fails to display in iTunes, which will keep you from being able to transfer songs from your computer to your iPod. If this happens, there are a number of steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Is it the iPod? Your iPod could fail to show in iTunes for a variety of reasons and this issue can be resolved by something as simple as rebooting your iPod. To reboot your iPod, first lay it on a flat surface. Using your thumb and index finger, press the play and menu button at the same time. If done correctly, your iPod screen will go blank and then you'll see the Apple logo. Is it the USB cable? Your iPod could fail to show in iTunes if you are using a defective USB cable. Try connecting your iPod to another computer that has iTunes installed using the same USB cable. If iPod again fails to show in iTunes, replace the USB cable. Is it my computer? One of the most common reasons your iPod doesn't show in iTunes is because your computer doesn't recognize your iPod is connected. Troubleshooting your computer/iPod connection Disconnect your iPod from the computer and reconnect. If your iPod still doesn't appear in iTunes, disconnect your iPod and reboot your machine. Once your computer has restarted, reconnect the iPod. Is it iTunes? Your iPod could be fail to display in iTunes if there is a issue with your iTunes program. If there is a problem with iTunes you can try updating the software to the most recent version. If that doesn't resolve your problem, re-install iTunes. b> http://www.itunes.com/ b> http://www.apple.com/support b> iPod Won't Connect to iTunes b> Apple's iTunes software contains mechanisms specially designed to sync with your iPod, allowing you to transfer music, videos and other media from your computer. If you find that iTunes does not recognize or allow you to access your iPod, then you cannot perform some of the device's most fundamental functions. Fortunately you can often resolve this problem without expensive maintenance, simply by doing a bit of troubleshooting and determining the cause of your connectivity problem.

Try resetting your iPod. Apple recommends this as a first step in troubleshooting an iPod not appearing in iTunes, since a quick reset will often restore functionality. If you use a click wheel iPod, hold down the "Menu" and center buttons until the Apple logo appears on your screen. For the iPod Touch, hold your "Home" button and "Sleep" button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. Charge your iPod battery. If your battery has absolutely no power left, your iPod will often remain unresponsive even when plugged into iTunes. Try charging for three to four hours and then try connecting again. Plug your iPod into your computer using a different USB port. Sometimes a failed connection can mean you have a faulty USB port, so try plugging your USB cable into a different port and see if the iPod appears in iTunes. Verify that you have the latest version of iTunes. Visit the iTunes page Apple.com and check to see the latest version available. If you do not know which version currently runs on your computer, click "About iTunes." For Mac users, this option will appear under 'iTunes" on your menu bar. For Windows users, the option will appear under "Help" on your menu bar. Download the latest version of iTunes if necessary. Reconfigure your iPod service. If running iTunes on a Windows computer, click "Start > My Computer > Manage," and select "Services and Applications." Under "Services," select "iPod Service" and click "Stop." Leave the window open and connect your iPod to your computer. When your iPod shows up on your computer, click "Start." Reinstall iTunes. If simply updating iTunes does not work, you may have defective software. Try removing the program from your computer and completely and reinstalling it.

Sometimes your iPod fails to display in iTunes, which will keep you from being able to transfer songs from your computer to your iPod. If this happens, there are a number of steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Is it the iPod? Your iPod could fail to show in iTunes for a variety of reasons and this issue can be resolved by something as simple as rebooting your iPod. To reboot your iPod, first lay it on a flat surface. Using your thumb and index finger, press the play and menu button at the same time. If done correctly, your iPod screen will go blank and then you'll see the Apple logo. Is it the USB cable? Your iPod could fail to show in iTunes if you are using a defective USB cable. Try connecting your iPod to another computer that has iTunes installed using the same USB cable. If iPod again fails to show in iTunes, replace the USB cable. Is it my computer? One of the most common reasons your iPod doesn't show in iTunes is because your computer doesn't recognize your iPod is connected. Troubleshooting your computer/iPod connection Disconnect your iPod from the computer and reconnect. If your iPod still doesn't appear in iTunes, disconnect your iPod and reboot your machine. Once your computer has restarted, reconnect the iPod. Is it iTunes? Your iPod could be fail to display in iTunes if there is a issue with your iTunes program. If there is a problem with iTunes you can try updating the software to the most recent version. If that doesn't resolve your problem, re-install iTunes. b> http://www.itunes.com/ b> http://www.apple.com/support b> iPod Won't Connect to iTunes b> Apple's iTunes software contains mechanisms specially designed to sync with your iPod, allowing you to transfer music, videos and other media from your computer. If you find that iTunes does not recognize or allow you to access your iPod, then you cannot perform some of the device's most fundamental functions. Fortunately you can often resolve this problem without expensive maintenance, simply by doing a bit of troubleshooting and determining the cause of your connectivity problem.

Try resetting your iPod. Apple recommends this as a first step in troubleshooting an iPod not appearing in iTunes, since a quick reset will often restore functionality. If you use a click wheel iPod, hold down the "Menu" and center buttons until the Apple logo appears on your screen. For the iPod Touch, hold your "Home" button and "Sleep" button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. Charge your iPod battery. If your battery has absolutely no power left, your iPod will often remain unresponsive even when plugged into iTunes. Try charging for three to four hours and then try connecting again. Plug your iPod into your computer using a different USB port. Sometimes a failed connection can mean you have a faulty USB port, so try plugging your USB cable into a different port and see if the iPod appears in iTunes. Verify that you have the latest version of iTunes. Visit the iTunes page Apple.com and check to see the latest version available. If you do not know which version currently runs on your computer, click "About iTunes." For Mac users, this option will appear under 'iTunes" on your menu bar. For Windows users, the option will appear under "Help" on your menu bar. Download the latest version of iTunes if necessary. Reconfigure your iPod service. If running iTunes on a Windows computer, click "Start > My Computer > Manage," and select "Services and Applications." Under "Services," select "iPod Service" and click "Stop." Leave the window open and connect your iPod to your computer. When your iPod shows up on your computer, click "Start." Reinstall iTunes. If simply updating iTunes does not work, you may have defective software. Try removing the program from your computer and completely and reinstalling it.

Step 1: Try charging your iPod via USB to your computer. Wait for a few minutes and see if it is accepting a charge. (You might have forgotten to charge it)
Step 2: After a full charge, try using your iPod. If your iPod dies in less than 2 hours or so, your battery is weakening or is dying out. If this is the issue skip to Step 4
Step 3: If you cannot turn your iPod on even after those steps, then your iPod really is dead. Proceed to Step 4.
Step 4: You can do one of either three options from this point:

1. If you bought your iPod less than a year ago, the Apple Store might replace your iPod for free on the spot as part of their warranty. OR
2. Go to the Apple Store and ask for them to repair your iPod for a fee.
3. Go to the Apple Store with your old iPod, and turn it in when you buy a new one - you will receive a 10% off for a new iPod.

Not normal at all.....you can try the iPod Reset Utility that is located here...... http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1238 but I don’t know if will fix the problem.....but it defiantly cant hurt....Let me know if this helped

cbinny1

iPod batteries are cheap on ebay...like $5...and come with installation instructions. Try installing a new battery and see what happens...?

It sounds like the battery has shorted out. Ship this guy out and have his battery replaced ASAP! This is a giveaway with the heat. Please note that it is "problem solved!"