Astra's AC Nightmare: Warm Air Puzzle Needs Solving

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2003 Vauxhall Corsa (1.2L petrol). I'd say I have low experience with car repairs, mostly just basic maintenance stuff. My AC was acting up the same way, only warm air coming through. Took it to my regular workshop, and they found that the line connecting to the air quality sensor was damaged. It was causing the whole AC system to malfunction. Got it fixed for around 95 Euro, and it's been working perfectly since then. Quick question, do you notice any unusual smells when you turn on the AC? Also, could you share what engine size you have? Might help to know if we're dealing with the same setup.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Astra has done 17059 KM and just had its latest service done. I haven't noticed any weird smells when the AC is on, it just keeps blowing warm air. It's good to know that your fix was relatively straightforward and not too expensive. I've been worried it might be something major like the compressor! The engine's a 1.6L, by the way. Hopefully, it's just a similar sensor issue like yours.

Hey again! Yeah, after fixing that sensor issue on my Corsa, I actually learned quite a bit more about AC problems. Since you mentioned your Astra's mileage is pretty reasonable and there's no funky smell, I'm starting to think it might not be the air quality sensor after all. You know what? I did some more digging after my own repair, and these Vauxhalls can sometimes have issues with their refrigerant levels too. Even though your car's had recent service, they don't always check the AC refrigerant unless specifically asked. Mine actually needed a top-up a few months after the sensor fix. I'd suggest getting the refrigerant levels checked first, it's usually cheaper than diving straight into sensor replacements like I did. My mechanic told me later that starting with the simplest solution could've saved me some cash! By the way, how's the air flow when you turn the fan to max? Is it strong but just warm, or weak overall? This might help narrow things down a bit more. Let me know how it goes!

Thanks for the additional insight! You've got me thinking it might be worth checking the refrigerant levels first. The airflow is actually pretty strong when I crank it up to max, it's just annoyingly warm! I never thought about the service not including an AC refrigerant check, but that makes total sense. I'll definitely ask about that specifically when I take it in. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and the follow-up advice. It's definitely given me a better starting point, and hopefully, I won't have to go through unnecessary repairs like you did. I'll make sure to get the refrigerant levels checked first before looking into any sensor issues. Thanks again for all your help!