Avantime temperature gauge and AC issues

Sounds familiar! I have an Avantime too. I had similar symptoms – dodgy temperature readings, AC refusing to kick in. Did you check for coolant leaks around the sensor? Sometimes a slow leak can mess with the sensor's readings. When you say "temperature sensor", are you talking about the one that monitors the coolant temperature before it enters the engine? The Engine Control Unit (ECU) uses this data to adjust the fuel injection and ignition timing.

Thanks for the quick response! I haven't spotted any obvious coolant leaks, but I'll double-check. And yes, I'm referring to the coolant temperature sensor near the heat exchanger. Is that the same sensor you had problems with? Did you manage to fix it yourself, or did you take it to a workshop?

Yep, that's the one! In my case, replacing the sensor didn't fully resolve the issue. Turns out, the air conditioning control unit was also faulty. The dodgy sensor reading was a symptom, not the root cause. I'd recommend getting it properly diagnosed at a workshop. They can check the AC control unit and see if it's sending the correct signals. Trying to calibrate the sensor is unlikely to help.

Thanks, that's really helpful! I was hoping it would be a simple sensor replacement, but it sounds like it might be more involved. I'll take it to a workshop and get them to check the AC control unit as you suggested. They quoted me around 980€ for the repair. Appreciate the advice!