RSQ3 Climate Control Mystery: Solar Sensor Alert

Had the same issue on my Q5 2013 gasoline model. The daylight sensor malfunction caused similar climate control problems. Initially thought it was the heater core, but diagnostic tests revealed a damaged wiring harness connecting to the solar sensor unit on the dashboard. The sensor fault triggered erratic climate control behavior because the system relies on solar load data to adjust cabin temperature. A broken connection meant the climate control module received incorrect readings. This required removing parts of the dashboard to access the wiring. The repair involved replacing the complete sensor wiring harness and performing proper sensor calibration. This was not a quick fix, the car stayed at the workshop for 2 days due to the complex dashboard disassembly needed to properly route the new wiring. Main symptoms that matched: Inconsistent heating performance, Climate control behaving erratically, Stored fault codes related to sensor input This is generally considered a significant repair due to the labor-intensive dashboard removal process and precise calibration requirements. Recommend finding a workshop with specific experience handling car sensor systems and Audi climate control units. The solar sensor issue is a known weak point on several VAG models from that generation. Getting it fixed properly the first time avoids repeat visits.

Thanks for sharing that detailed experience. The symptoms you described match exactly what I am seeing with my RSQ3. A damaged solar sensor making the climate control go haywire would explain the erratic heating behavior. Before booking another workshop visit, curious to know what the repair ended up costing you? Also, has the temperature sensor system been working reliably since the fix, or have you noticed any other automotive sensor issues popping up? I want to make sure I budget correctly and find someone who can properly handle the fault detection and calibration the first time around. Getting real cost examples from others who had this fixed helps set proper expectations.

Just had the repair done last week, turned out much simpler than expected. The automotive sensor issue was caused by a loose cable connection to the solar sensor unit, not a complete harness failure like I initially feared. Total cost was 95 Euro for fixing the faulty connection. The fault detection system picked up the issue right away and the repair shop handled the sensor calibration without needing extensive dashboard disassembly. Much better outcome than my previous experience. Since the fix, the daylight sensor and climate control have been working flawlessly. The heating responds properly now and the system maintains consistent cabin temperature. No other sensor faults have appeared. My advice would be to specifically mention the solar sensor symptoms when booking the appointment. A shop experienced with automotive sensor diagnostics should be able to quickly identify if its just a connection issue like mine was, rather than assuming worst-case scenarios that require major disassembly.

Based on your experience, I finally got my car fixed last week. After reading about your HVAC sensor troubles, I found a specialized workshop through a local car enthusiast group. The mechanic immediately recognized the sunlight sensor issue and confirmed it with proper fault detection equipment. The repair was straightforward, just like your case, they found a damaged wire connection to the solar sensor. Fixed it in about 2 hours, cost me 120 Euro including the diagnostic fee and sensor calibration. Much better than I expected after that previous terrible experience. The climate control now works perfectly. The automotive sensor system is properly calibrated and the heating responds correctly to temperature changes. Really glad I waited to find the right specialist instead of rushing back to my previous mechanic. The experience taught me to be more specific about sensor-related problems when describing issues to mechanics. Getting it done right the first time saved both money and headaches.