Strangest iPod problem

I put a new battery in my original iPod (1G) about two or three months back and it's been running better than ever, with over 12 hours of juice regularly.

The other night I went to play it and the HD made a grinding noise; I thought it was taking a crap. I turned it off and waited 'til I got home to check it out. I plugged it in yesterday and it gave me the folder warning. No HD spool up. Uh oh...HD isn't spinning. I run diagnostics and get sad iPod.

It's toast, right? So I thought.

I place a $30 bid on a new (as is) 10GB HD on eBay and pry the case open to look things over. As I pry off a corner, it springs to life! I check it out and yes! it's playing! I put the cover back on and down she goes.

Anyway, after a few times of checking through this, I ascertained that what had happened was the new battery, being in an airtight foil thingy, had puffed up (warmer weather?) with air and was pressing on the HD when the case was closed. I used a pin to vent the air out and she's good as new.

Now I may end up with double the HD space though...