Vauxhall Adam's AC Fails: Solar Sensor Mystery

Had a similar issue with my 2015 Vauxhall Corsa last summer. Initially thought it was just low refrigerant, but turned out the wiring harness to the AC compressor was damaged. The insulation had worn through and was causing intermittent connection problems. The symptoms were exactly like yours, minimal cooling and inconsistent performance. Took it to my local Vauxhall specialist (not the dealership) after my regular mechanic couldn't pinpoint the issue. They found the problem within an hour using their diagnostic equipment. The wiring harness needed complete replacement as it was causing multiple electrical issues with the AC system. It was a serious repair since the damaged wiring could have potentially affected other electrical components. The job took about a day and a half because they had to remove several components to access the harness. If you're having doubts about your current mechanic, I'd recommend finding a Vauxhall specialist. They'll likely have more experience with model-specific issues like this.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad you got it sorted. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much the wiring harness fix set you back? And has everything been running smoothly since the repair? I'm trying to get a sense of what I might be looking at cost-wise and whether it's a lasting solution.

Hey there! Yeah, I can help with that. I just got my car back from the mechanic actually, the whole wiring harness issue has been completely sorted. The total bill came to 155€, which honestly wasn't as bad as I was expecting. And the best part? They found that the solar sensor malfunction was directly related to the dodgy wiring harness, so fixing one solved both problems! Since getting it fixed, my AC's been working like a charm, proper cold air and everything's responding exactly as it should. It's been about three months now, and I haven't had a single problem. The temperature control is way more consistent, and the whole system just feels more reliable. For what it's worth, I think getting it fixed properly by a specialist was definitely the right call. Sure, 155€ isn't pocket change, but it's better than having ongoing issues or risking more damage to the electrical system. Plus, now I don't have to worry about sweating through another summer! Let me know if you end up getting yours checked out, curious to hear if you've got the same issue!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! I actually just got back from the mechanic today. Took your advice and found a Vauxhall specialist nearby. You were spot on about the wiring, though in my case, it was a bit more complex. Turned out I had both a wiring issue and a partially blocked condenser. Total cost came to 220€, which stung a bit but honestly seems fair for the work they did. The best part? The mechanic actually showed me the damaged parts and explained everything, such a different experience from my last garage! The AC's now blowing properly cold air for the first time in ages. Really glad I didn't put this off any longer. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me make the decision to get it checked out properly. Feels good to have this sorted before the weather gets any warmer! I'll definitely be sticking with this specialist for future repairs.