e6400 - broken latch. ideas to fix / replace?

the latch on my e6400 has broken. the bit of metal which protrudes out from above the screen has snapped off. now the lid cannot click close and stay closed.

any ideas how to replace it or easy ways to keep the lid shut?

 

Is that loop metal or plastic? I'm not going to try bending mine to see if it breaks.

If you don't want to invest in a replacement, then a fix could be to bend a piece of paperclip into a U of the right shape and size, drill two holes where the the loop has broken off and glue the loop into the holes. Then paint it black using a marker pen and no one will notice.

The challenge will be to get the loop to stick out the right amount to latch the screen properly.

John

 

Buy s spare latch from eBay and follow the service guide instructions.

 

open the chassis and superglue a neodymium magnet on either side where the latch was.

 

metal. don't try - its brittle. not sure how i broke mine either. went to close the case and it didn't click; checked and the metal loop wasn't there anymore.

latitude not inspiron.

doubt that's going to work. not enough metal to attract it strongly enough to keep the lid shut.

 

oops! . My bad..

 

thats why you put a magnet on either side!

 

Erm, there are currently no E6400's that are out of their warranty period, so why not call Dell?

Greg

 

My thoughts exactly! hahaha

 

was going to call, but support is closed at the weekend, and today forgot to take my service tag code with me to work, so it'll be tomorrow now.

i'm not sure the latch is included in the warranty. point 7.4. but i'll find out tomorrow.