[sniffer]

I've had indescribable issues with the mouse pad for over a year. I couldn't possible explain it in any way. What happened was that sometimes (but not often) the track pad went dead, or just stop working for a few second.
Just recently I discovered something odd. Every time I touched the metallic button used for open up the lid, the mouse pad stopped working. I didn't have to push it in or anything. In further investigation when I pushed the button slowly in, I could actually hear the electric noise like in a short circuit error.
I've grabbed some el-tape and have now taped the button to isolate it, and it works perfectly.
But here is the question, which I think will go to those of you that actually have seen how the locker button actually work. Is there any way to fix this? And is there a explanation on what can be wrong? I've never opened my iBook except for ram and airport upgrade.
Thanks in advance.

BTW: It's an late/early 2001/2002 dual USB iBook 600 8MB ATI, with no warranty of course. (It works faithfully in any other way)


Temporally fix:

[SupahCoolX]

I would definitely get that checked. There should be no electronics involved with the latch button itself (just simple springs and a magnet to get the latch out). If it is making contact with some of the wiring or something in there, that's a potentially dangerous situation. You could fry your motherboard, or possibly even start a fire (depending on the exact nature and severity of the damage). Take that one to the shop!