Battery latch broke, does this affect my battery?

I've just had my Toshiba Satellite for about a year now (the warranty just expired last week which does not help me.) In a year, I noticed that I lost about an hour and a half charge of the battery, so I went to take it out to see the model number (to get a new battery) and a little black piece fell out with it. It was the right side latch that had broken off at some point, so only the left side locks. I realized a while ago I had about 2 hours of charge, but now I only have barely an hour of charge under the same circumstances (wireless off and such). Could the broken latch have caused the reduction in charge, or did it just even out. Can I fix the latch myself? I don't think gluing it will do any good obviously, I can't even get into there but I don't know if I have to purchase just a part for the latch or a whole new bottom.

 

its normal for battries to lose full charge, only fix is a new one. the latch you can repair them yourself, although they are a bit tricky...

 

No, it won't, as long as the connectors are touching, it will be fine.