Peraspera and Others,
I have the same problem that many of you have described. When I put the key in the door lock it would turn freely. I took off the door panel, removed the door lock and the gray mechanism behind it. Exactly as described the disc like part (the rightmost part in my pictures below) is broken. The ears have broken and hence the key is not able the turn the spade.
Question is: If I was to order the VW Kit from Amazon will the similar part from VW kit work? I have a feeling not. Check out the third pic which is the repeat from below and the same part (bottom left in 3rd picture) does not have the slotted segment in it to be able to turn when the key is turned (it has a circular center hole). I could get it and use a small file to file the small slots on both sides of the bore.
Is that what you'll did or did you'll replace the other parts too? My spade is not broken (unlike what I thought before I opened it up).
Any thoughts?
