VW Transporter Climate Control Failure & Sensor Issues

Having some experience with climate control systems, I faced a similar issue on my 2016 VW Caddy. The temperature sensor diagnostics revealed that the problem wasnt actually the sensor itself, but rather a faulty cable connection to the climate control module. The symptoms were nearly identical, the automatic climate regulation stopped working and the AC wouldnt respond. After running sensor diagnostics, my repair shop found that moisture had caused corrosion in one of the connector plugs, leading to intermittent connection issues with the temperature sensor. The total repair came to 95€, which covered cleaning the connections, replacing the damaged plug, and running a final diagnostic check to ensure the climate control system was functioning properly. To help troubleshoot your situation better, could you share: Are you getting any specific error codes? Does the fan still work on manual settings? Have you noticed any unusual sounds from the climate control unit? Did the issue start suddenly or develop gradually? These details would help determine if youre dealing with the same type of connection problem or if its something else in the climate regulation system.

The HVAC sensor issue started happening right after my last service at 41608km. Looking at the responses, I think I might have a similar connector problem. My temperature reading is completely off and the climate system shows error P0531. The fan works fine in manual mode, but the automatic climate regulation is completely dead. No strange sounds from the unit though. The temperature sensor diagnostics should be the first step, but I worry the entire climate control module might need replacing. Would be great if someone could confirm if cleaning the connectors also worked in their case before I take it to the shop.

Thanks for the additional details. In my case with the VW Caddy, the error code was different (P0537), but the symptoms match what youre experiencing, especially the working manual fan but dead automatic climate control. Since my connector cleaning fixed the issue, Id definitely recommend trying this first before replacing any major components. The HVAC sensor and climate control module are actually quite robust, its usually the connections that cause problems. When my repair shop cleaned the connectors, they found that the temperature sensor was reading erratically because of the poor connection, similar to your situation. They also applied some dielectric grease to prevent future corrosion issues with the climate regulation system. Important point: the timing of your issue starting after a service visit could indicate the connection was disturbed during maintenance work. This happened on my Caddy too, the climate control problems began shortly after routine maintenance. Based on the matching symptoms and circumstances, Id say theres a good chance you have the same connector issue. A good shop should be able to diagnose this with basic temperature sensor testing equipment. The repair should cost around 100€ if its just connector-related, versus 400-600€ for a new climate control module.

Thanks for the detailed response and suggestions. I'll definitely mention the connector issue when I take it to the shop. Will have them check the HVAC sensor connections first before looking at more expensive repairs like replacing the climate control module. Your experience with a similar connector problem really helps, especially knowing it could have been disturbed during my recent service. The temperature reading issues and climate regulation problems match exactly what you described. Will book an appointment tomorrow for temperature sensor diagnostics and specifically ask them to inspect the connections. The repair cost range you mentioned gives me a good reference point too. Makes me feel better knowing it might just be a simple connector fix rather than a major component failure. Will update once I get the results from the shop.