Trying to get the time-lapse feature to work

I set up the time-lapse like the user manual says: select time-lapse, select time-lapse setting. When I hit the record button, it doesn't do anything. The record indicator (red dot) shows on the screen and the red light blinks on top of the camera. But the record counter remains at zero. For example, i select a time-lapse of five minutes. I press record. The recording indicators are present/blinking. The record counter remains at zero until five minutes have passed and then the record counter says 5 minutes but stays there and doesn't advance. The recording indicators stay on too. After a bit, i stop recording and go to play back the file and it plays maybe for a second and stops. What am I doing wrong? Other than this the camera works great. Thanks.