VC Meter II fails intermettently

[pschauss]

The title says it. Sometimes the lights come on when I push the button and sometimes they don't. If I press the button enough times the meter usually starts to work and then it will work for a while. The batteries are fresh so that is not the issue. The battery compartment is clean and I pried up on the battery contacts a bit hoping that they would make a more solid connection to the batteries. I have had the meter for more than five years and it has seen a good bit of use.

Has anyone had a similar problem with one of these meters? Any ideas what might be causing the problem?

Thanks,