Late night door locks

[Brooks Ellis <brooks@fortnet.org>]

Well, it's either late at night, or early in the morning; all depending on
how you look at it. Anyway, I have had a question/problem that I have been
meaning to get some input on, but have just been busy, and forgotten about
it. ( so here we go ) [ oh, it's a 1990 100 Quattro ]

        About a week or week and a half ago, by drivers side key-lock/unlock
device has stopped functioning. Meaning - the door will lock if you press
down on the internal lock-post; and will unlock if you pull up on it. When
you try to use the key to lock/unlock, the whole cylendar will just spin
around; and nothing will really happen...no lock, no unlock...:( just my
blood pressure rising.
        The door will also lock and unlock if you use the key in the
passenger side keyhole-lock-mechanism-thang. It seems that I have heard of
this happening to some degree of regularity to owners of that general style
automobile. I looked at another Audi a while ago ( a '90 V8 Q) that had the
same problem. The guy who was trying to sell it to me said that there is a
little piece of plastic in the door lock mechanism that connects to the
keyhole; or something to that effect. He said that his shop quoted him about
$100 to fix it.

        So - _IS_ this a common mode of failure on this style car? What can
I do about it ( besides locking and unlocking my car from the passenger side
everytime )? Would this be a simple saturday mechanic in the garage type of
repair - or would it really be better to take the car to a shop experienced
in such matters?
        What kind of money would I be looking at to repair this irritating
action of the Audi-gods? Is this going to be a minor sacrifice, or a
kidney-selling sacrifice? 

Well, I am sure that I have taken up more than enough of you time with my
somewhat trivial matter. I would appriciate anyone's input on this matter,
thanks a lot!

brooks

PS - I guess it can be sort of helpful - when I am out with a girlfriend, I
always go to her side and unlock the door first. ( Usially open it too, to
carry through with the whole chivalry thing ) Later, there friends come up
to me and tell me

" wow! Lynda thought you were such a gentleman, always opening her door
first! I wish I was going out with a guy like that "

" Yeah, well, you know. Always the best for my ladies. " <snicker>

Something about a silver lining of oil spills or clouds or something.

laters