e6400 - broken latch. ideas to fix / replace?

Perhaps there was a manufacturing defect with your latch. No one else here has reported a similar problem. It might been half broken when you received it.

John

 

perhaps.

anyway, i have just finished chatting to dell support online. and they've organised an engineer to come out on thursday to replace it for me. they offered next business day but i'm busy.

 

Hope this helps others.. I have an E6400 with the same broken latch. I called Dell for the part. They ended up sending the entire cover plate, which wasn't needed. Luckily the latch piece itself comes out with just a single screw, you just need to remove the bezel (this plastic frame around the display).
It's pretty easy to remove. Follow the directions for Removing the Display Bezel. It removes easily without tools.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/late6400/en/sm/html/index.htm

Replacing the latch can be done without removing the display from the laptop. I skipped all of the first steps and just removed the bezel.

 

It should be, latch is not just for cosmetics.