VW Fox Climate Control Failure: Sensor Issue Warning

This sounds very similar to what I experienced with my 2011 VW Polo diesel last summer. I have some experience with basic car maintenance and climate control systems. The symptoms match exactly what happened to my car, complete climate control failure and error codes. After initial sensor diagnostics, the workshop found that the temperature sensor wasnt the core issue. The problem was traced to a loose cable connection at the control module. The repair involved: Full diagnostic scan of the climate control system, Testing the temperature sensor functionality, Locating and fixing the faulty cable connection, Resetting the control module Total cost was 95€ for diagnostics, parts and labor. The fix took about an hour and has worked perfectly since then. To help further, could you share: Whether you get any specific error codes? Does the fan still work on manual settings? Have you noticed any changes in temperature reading accuracy before the complete failure? Did you have any previous issues with the sensor replacement or climate control system? This issue is fairly common across several VW models from that era, and the sensor diagnostics process is quite straightforward once the exact cause is identified.

Last serviced in January, they didnt spot any climate regulation issues at that point. Regarding my initial question, I checked the error codes again with my OBD scanner and got P0116 which points directly to the temperature sensor. When testing the manual settings as suggested, I noticed the system briefly responds then shuts off. The workshop quote for sensor replacement seems high at 285€, which is why I wanted to check if others had similar experiences. This feels excessive for what should be a straightforward temperature sensor swap.

I actually encountered that exact P0116 code on my Polo before fixing the connection issue I mentioned earlier. While that code often suggests a temperature sensor problem, it can be misleading. The brief system response you described matches my situation perfectly, I initially thought I needed a complete sensor replacement too. The 285€ quote does seem steep compared to my 95€ repair. Given that my issue was resolved by fixing the connection rather than sensor replacement, you might want to have them specifically check the wiring connections first. The HVAC sensor itself may be functioning correctly. A key diagnostic test would be to monitor the temperature reading fluctuations while the system is running in manual mode. In my case, the readings were erratic when the connection was loose, but the actual sensor was fine. This saved me from an unnecessary sensor replacement. Have you noticed if the temperature readings seem accurate before the system shuts off? This could help determine if its truly a faulty sensor or just a connection issue like mine was.

Thanks for the input. After reading about the similar experiences, I feel more confident pushing back on that 285€ quote. The wiring connection theory makes sense since my climate regulation system shows those brief responses before failing. Going to request specific HVAC sensor diagnostics first to rule out connection issues before agreeing to a full sensor replacement. What convinced me was how the symptoms match those previous cases where loose connections caused similar climate control failures. Will update once I get more detailed sensor diagnostics done and see if a simpler fix resolves these temperature reading problems. Really helpful to know that P0116 code might not automatically mean replacing the whole sensor.