thought these two links might be of use to other 'classic' owners when your lock fails... assuming vehicles with luxuries like central locking might be more involved - who knows?

 

Firstly how to remove the cylinder barrel.

You will need a long thin 'torx 20' screwdriver - i bought a set of 4 off fleabay for 8 quid.

 

Having already purchased a repair kit of ebay for 3 or 4 quid. This one best resembles the one I took out of my door - a Y reg 2000 1.4 mpi without central locking,

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-DOOR-LOCK-PADDLE-BARREL-CYLINDER-REPAIR-KIT-1U0898001-/331000296098?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AFabia&hash=item4d1127b2a2

 

This post by Tech1e shows who to go about it: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/113882-removing-a-door-handle-fabia-and-octavia/

 

like the man says, loosen the top screw a few turns DO NOT take it out then loosen the lower one, with the handle pulled out a bit, until you feel some resistance, then the barrel can be prized out quite easily. If it's reluctant to shift, give the top screw another couple of turns.

 

Once out I gave the gubbins inside the door a squirt of white grease then set about dismantling the barrel...

comme ca:

 

 

One of the lugs on the spring retainer had sheered off on mine.

 

Cant lay claim t any of the brain work but these two posts proved invaluable - I have only had one functioning lock for years now so figured i ought to get it sorted before the good one packed up!

 

meant to post this one - how to rebuild the lock barrel.

 

 

BTW not having a Maglite to hand, I tried an off-cut of 15mm copper pipe and cut a little notch out of that - but found it a bit too tight and in the end I managed to secure the spring using the larger upper collar, twisting it into place and holding the paddle onto it with a pair of pliers(to stop it popping out) whilst sliding in the circlip.