T43p battery latch broken after drop

[dinotopia]

Dear Thinkpad Gurus,

I dropped my T43p (along with the laptop backpack it was in), and the back edge of the laptop where the battery is made contact with a hard concrete floor. I didn't think it was damaged, but when I took it out of the bag, a few small pieces of plastic came out with it and I realised that the battery latch (the middle one that locks the battery in place, not the one that you have to hold in order to take the battery out) was totally destroyed. The battery was okay, just there is no more latch - just an empty space where the latch used to be. The latch handle fell out, along with the small plastic piece that I'm guessing used to be inside the laptop (it has a hook to hold the battery in place).

Is this reparable, should I even bother repairing it (the battery still stays in, it's just more wiggly than before), and is there are part # for this secondary battery latch? Thanks guys, I know you're the experts.

Edit: The keyboard also kind of popped out partially, but I unscrewed it and reseated it and now it's working fine. But I also noticed about 2 screws are missing from the bottom of the laptop, I can't find them in my bag, though.

[_erazor_]

the latch can be ordered in a system misc. parts set. a screw set would also help you I guess.

you can find the fru`s at the lenovo page if you look for "t43" and then for "system service parts".

I don`t have the url at hand atm

[yourself]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-58720

I think this is what you're looking for. depending on your model

15 inch 26R8407
14 inch 26R9155

Base Misc parts, I queried this recently, approx 50 buck CDN for these parts.

[dinotopia]

Thank for the replies - and wow, I had no idea they sold these kinds of parts!

Even if I got the latch, do I need a professional to install it? I mean, it looks like it could be complicated.

[yourself]

it might be tricky just to replace the tab. I just recently replaced the base assembly on my t43, if you want to get to the tabs, you'll have to lift the motherboard off the chassis, which means you'll have to pretty much disassemble the T43 as if you were replacing the base assy.



edit:

I tried to order an extra screw kit from Ibm Canada just to be sure, it was around 14 bucks CDN, but the rep told me they weren't in stock for regular sale, US or Canada, and the stock they do have, is for warranty issues.

as for the screws for the keyboard... if you order a replacement keyboard, they do come with four screws.

[Talon88]

:::

You are lucky that you only broke the latch of the batt,
not the Thinkpad.

The other 2 hole have no screw, it's empty & for
water drain.

I don't think you can open the batt to reinstall the
latch, the batt is sealed....!

:::