Fuji S3 focusing with 70-200 f2.8G AF-S VR

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Fellow members,

Any other owners of the Fuji S3 & the Nikon ED AF-S VR 70-200mm f2.8G out there experiencing intermittent focusing problems with that combination?????

I've tried many things and several times thought I found the problem but it still occurs. Here is the problem:

A) You press the shutter to focus with this lens onboard and no focus (or Vibration Reduction) happens. Note this does not always happen, sometimes it works just fine. It is extreemely frustrating when you are shooting as you all can imagine. The great pic comes into the frame, you press the shutter and NOTHING happens...... ARrrrrrggggg that shot is gone forever......

Other observations:
1) It seems to be all or nothing when you power on meaning if it works the 1st shot you can take hundreds of shots as long a you don't turn OFF the camera.
2) It is NOT that I'm accidentally pushing the Vertical shutter release button I've locked that out (DUH).
3)Same lens does NOT have this problem on my Fuji S2.
4)Problem also occurs (and more often) if I'm using the Nikon TC17Eii 1.7 tele converter in combonation with this lens.

Things I've tried:
a) Replaced Batteries: For awhile I though it was battery capacity to deliver peak loads. I had one set of batteries that I ditched that this problem seemed to happen all the time with. But I've also tried several other sets of batteries and don't notice any difference from brand to brand.
b) Cleaned the Contacts on the lens / body. No noticable difference.
c) Updated Firmware. I actually believe this made it worse and am considering backing out to an older version of the FW.
d) Tried many combinations of settings (VR Off, VR on active, VR on normal, full focus, limited range focus, Single mode AF, Continuous AF.
e) The problem occurs more often when it is HOT out (90F+ sunny days), or so it appears.

I'm about to call Fuji of course but thought I'd post this first to see if anyone has had like troubles?

Cheers!

[edwind]

I am totally new to VR but having just bought the 18-200 AF-S VR, I notice that the focus can be knocked off by turning (even accidentally) the manual focus ring. This is while the Auto focus with Manual overide (AF-M) button is selected.
While we're on the subject of focussing. Did you have a note in your lens instructions saying that if you have auto-focus turned on (on the camera) VR will not operate?