just to clarify, a bad cap wouldn't do something like this?
or would it?
that is I know now everything but recording will work indefinitely.

Would a bad cap shut it down after it started recording? or is this just some other bad part that overheats?
I can turn it back on immediately(less the boot time) and it dies again at the same amount of record time.

I noticed a couple other caps with the same rating, just lower volts, I would try if it is still possible.