[Leica] battery problem?

[Guy Bennett <gbennett@club-internet.fr>]

one and all,

experienced a little problem yesterday while taking pictures with my m6 at
the jardin des plantes: the l.e.d.'s that indicate correct exposure did not
stay lit for the 10 seconds or so after the shutter release was slightly
depressed, as they have always done. rather, they went out as soon as i
took my finger off the shutter release. i found that if i *held* the
shutter release down half way, the lights stayed on and i was able to set
the exposure. this morning, however, i found that even if i hold down the
shutter release half way, the lights seem to pulse slightly, and then go
off, even though i'm still slightly depressing the shutter release. i
suppose this means it's time for a new battery (at least, i hope that's all
it means). i bought the camera in february of this year, and according to
stephen gandy's list of leica 'birthdates', mine was 'born' in june of '98.
i am pretty fastidious about setting the shutter speed dial to 'off' before
putting the camera back in the bag, so i can't say that the battery has
been inadvertently left on. i mention all this because it seems that 5
months is a rather short life span for a moderately used battery. any one
have any idea what this is all about? thanks for your thoughts and
suggestions.

guy