I have an RCA Hi-8 camcorder that's only a few years old. I discharged the battery before I put it in storage like it says in the manual, then when I took it out again, I set up the camcorder to fully charge the battery. The problem is that even though the camcorder says the battery is charged, it's not. When I turned the camcorder on, it had enough life to stay on for a few minutes before going black. Then it wouldn't work at all. The manual said that over time, the life of the rechargeable battery can be reduced. I bought a replacement battery, but it won't work either. I tried contacting the manufacturer, but they just suggested that I buy a new battery. What else could be wrong?
I'd start by checking the battery terminals on the camcorder to make sure they're clean and aren't sporting any corrosion. When you purchased a new battery, are you sure you bought the correct model for your camcorder?