VW Virtus Climate Control System Complete Failure Alert

I had a very similar issue with my 2018 VW Polo last winter. As someone with some hands-on experience maintaining cars, I initially thought it was just a blower motor issue. The symptoms were nearly identical, unresponsive control panel, weak heating, and the air conditioning system completely stopped working. The electronic fault indicators on the dashboard were quite similar to what you describe. After taking it to a workshop, they diagnosed a faulty wiring harness connection to the climate control module. The cable insulation had worn down, causing intermittent connection issues. The total repair cost was 95€, which covered the labor to access the control panel and fix the loose connection. Before jumping to conclusions about your specific case, could you share: Does the blower motor make any unusual sounds when you try to adjust the fan speed? Have you noticed any other electronic issues in the dashboard area? When did these symptoms first appear, gradually or suddenly? Do you see any specific error codes on the display? This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced or if it might be a different component of the climate control system causing problems.

Thanks for the detailed response. My issue started gradually over the past month. The blower motor makes a faint clicking sound when adjusting speeds, but no other strange noises. No other electronic issues in the dashboard area. The error code shown is P0531. Last service was done at 45000km just 2 months ago, where they primarily focused on regular maintenance items like oil change and filters. The HVAC system was working fine then. I will get the wiring harness connections checked as you suggested, since the symptoms match closely with your experience. The air conditioning being completely non-functional is particularly concerning as we enter warmer weather.

Thanks for the additional details about your VW Virtus. The error code P0531 specifically points to a temperature sensor issue in the air conditioning system, which differs slightly from my wiring harness problem, though the symptoms are similar. After my initial harness fix, I actually encountered the P0531 code a few months later. The temperature sensor had degraded, causing the air conditioning system to malfunction. The electronic faults triggered the control panel to shut down as a protective measure. The repair involved: Replacing the faulty temperature sensor: 140€, Diagnostic system check: 45€, Recharging the AC system: 65€ Getting this fixed restored full functionality to both heating and cooling. The clicking sound you mentioned from the blower motor could be related to the system trying to compensate for incorrect temperature readings. Make sure the technician checks all electrical connectors around the sensor area, as poor connections can sometimes mimic a failed sensor. They should also verify the control panel is receiving correct signals from the new sensor after installation. Worth noting that post-repair, it took about 2-3 start cycles for all systems to sync properly and function at full capacity.

Thanks for all that information and sharing your experience. The P0531 code and temperature sensor issue definitely helps narrow things down. You are right that having diagnosed the exact problem will likely make this repair more straightforward than my initial fears. I will book it in next week to have the temperature sensor replaced and get them to check those electrical connectors while they are in there. The total cost estimate of around 250€ for everything sounds reasonable compared to what I was worried it might be. Really helpful to know about the potential startup cycles needed after repair too, will make sure not to panic if it takes a few starts to get back to normal. At least the clicking from the blower motor makes more sense now, understanding how it relates to the bad sensor readings. Will update once I get it sorted in case anyone else runs into similar HVAC system problems with their car. Thanks again for walking me through your experience with this repair.