Astra's Climate Control Chaos: Sensor or Something More?

Had the same issue with my 2016 Vauxhall Insignia Diesel (143k km). The symptoms were exactly like yours, weak airflow and temperature acting up. Got it checked at my local garage last month. Turned out the outdoor temperature sensor's wiring harness was corroded and had a loose connection. The sensor itself was fine, but the plug connection was shot. The mechanic showed me where the water had gotten in and damaged the wiring near the front bumper. It wasn't a major repair, just needed to replace the wiring harness and reseal the connection properly. They also cleaned the area to prevent future corrosion. The whole thing took about 2 hours to fix. If you're near Manchester, I can recommend Smith's Auto, they specialize in Vauxhalls and did a solid job on mine. They were upfront about what needed fixing and didn't try to upsell unnecessary work. Best get it checked soon though, driving without proper temp readings can affect other engine management systems.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Good to know it wasn't anything too serious in your case. Do you remember roughly how much you paid for the repair? Also, has everything been working properly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? I'm actually down in London, but I appreciate the Manchester recommendation. Might have to do some digging to find someone similarly reliable around here.

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, yeah, the repair was totally worth it. Cost me 155€ (about £135) for fixing the dodgy cable connection to the temperature sensor. Since getting it sorted at Smith's, everything's been running like clockwork, no more wonky temperature readings or AC issues. The airflow's back to normal, and the heater/AC responds exactly how it should. That warning light on the dash disappeared too, which is always a good sign! Honestly, such a relief it wasn't anything more serious. My Insignia's been perfect since the fix, no related problems at all. Definitely recommend getting yours checked out sooner rather than later. And yeah, shame you're not closer to Manchester, Smith's did a bang-up job. But I'm sure there must be some decent Vauxhall specialists in London who can sort you out. Maybe try checking some local forums or owner's groups for recommendations? Good luck with getting it fixed! Let us know how it goes.

Just wanted to update everyone, got my Astra fixed last week! Found a decent garage in South London through a local Vauxhall owners' Facebook group. You were spot on about the wiring issue. Took it to Morris Auto Services, and they diagnosed it pretty quickly. Similar to what you experienced, corroded wiring harness near the temp sensor. Mine was a bit more complicated though, as they had to replace part of the sensor unit too. Ended up costing £180 all in, but honestly, it was worth every penny. The mechanic, Dave, was really helpful, showed me exactly what was wrong and even gave me some tips to prevent future issues. Been driving for about a week now, and what a difference! The AC's blowing properly, heater's working great, and that annoying warning light is finally gone. Thanks again for sharing your experience, really helped me feel more confident about getting it sorted. Guess sometimes you just need to find the right mechanic! Cheers!