This is the first I've heard of this. First off, presuming that you reflashed the firmware, go into 'Setup' and play with the backlight settings. It sounds like either you have a backlight about to go out or the new battery you put in (don't know where you got it), may be surging power a bit at times. I highly doubt the "surge" problem so I'd think you might want to get the remote looked at.

Peter D, any comments? This one is news to me.