Active pickup problem?

[epex]

Hi i have just perchased a brand new bass collection bass that uses active pickups. when i played this bass through my headphones and my amp i got a disorted sound and you could not here the note properlly, then the sound went all funny and was like all electrical souning as in it was just wierd noise then the sound just went dead and now when i plug it in in it does the same thing, sounds distoted then goes dead.. do u think the battery is dead or dying or is it a fault.. plz help thx..