91 200, Trunk Lock

[hah at srv.net]

>Quats,
>
>I've recently noticed that the trunk is no longer locking with the central
>locking system. I've got it locked independantly for now, but what do I 
need
>to check to get this fixed? I'm guessing there's a vacuum leak somewhere.
>Any BTDT's?? Car in question is a 1991 200 fwd.

Could be a galled ball bearing inside the trunk lock mechanism. Mine failed 
in the "always locked" position, but it could stick in the "always open" 
position. This sticking would cause the vacuum actuator to be ineffective. 
Take the cover off the latch inside the trunk and observe the rods and 
levers while someone else cycles the central locking. If the rod from the 
actuator is bowing instead of traveling back and forth, the sticky ball 
bearing is your problem. My fix: cut out the ball bearing with soldering 
iron, after copious lubrication failed to do anything.

HTH
Henry Harper
http://www.srv.net/~hah
1991 200 quattro, 112k
1988 GTI 16v, 217k