Ipod light burnout?

My Ipod that I revently purchased off someone was working fine when i started listening to it....until it went dead. Then when i plugged it into the computer to charge it, thee light turned off. I couldnt turn it on so i searched the net and found this crazy idea to hold the play on down and hit it on your desk.. tried that and it worked. Until I plugged it into the charger again...now it wont turn on again and the trick wont work. Am i plugging it in somewhere wrong or is it just the light messing up?