danoid - not a bad deal for the dealer especially if all they "really" do for that $1,200 quote is replace the $30 part.
Just to get it out there see
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61233&p=678574&hilit=+brother#p678574 for diagnosis on a bad actuator pin or bad ignition switch (driver side of steering column) neither of which is an expensive part.
Also don't forget the shift interlock that prevents starting in gear. About that geordi says "Pull the shield off the top of the gear shifter, there are 2 small cables in there; the passenger-side one is the sensor cable, it's not electrical, it's an aircraft wire; the sensor is actually located under the steering wheel. Unhooked, problem solved permanently. I thought of a quick way to test the actuator cable without pulling anything apart on the shifter console - With the engine off and in park, pull back slightly on the shifter to apply tension, and try cranking the engine. If it doesn't go... The cable is the culprit b/c the tolerance (and how much it moves normally) isn't much. The cable is pushed toward the front of the vehicle when the selector is in park, and just shifts backwards slightly when the selector is anywhere else. All you need to do is unclip the end of the cable, and push the end into the sheath until it stops (about 1/4") and tuck it away in there. This won't affect anything else in the operation of your CRD, the shift interlock (that foot-on-brake-to-shift) idiot switch will still be there and functioning... Unless that 2-wire connector happens to "fall out" like it did on mine. Strange how that happens sometimes. "