VW Beetle Climate Control Fix: Temperature Sensor Issue

Having had a similar climate regulation problem with my 2015 VW Golf, I can share my experience as someone with moderate car repair knowledge. The symptoms were nearly identical to what you describe. Initially, the climate control would work intermittently before failing completely. After sensor diagnostics at the workshop, they found the issue was related to a faulty cable connection at the interior temperature sensor, not the sensor itself. The repair involved reconnecting and securing the wiring properly, which cost 95€ including the diagnostic work. The sensor issues turned out to be less complex than initially feared. Climate regulation returned to normal immediately after the repair and has worked perfectly since then. To provide more specific guidance for your case, could you share: Are you getting any specific error codes? Did the problem start suddenly or develop gradually? Does the fan still work on manual settings? Have you noticed any unusual sounds from the climate control unit? This information would help determine if your Beetle is experiencing the same sensor connection problem I encountered.

Thanks for sharing those insights. After reading your experience, I checked my HVAC sensor connections but they seem secure. The problem started gradually over the last month, and I do get error code P0531. The fan works fine in manual mode. Last service was done at 115000km just 2 months ago, but they didnt mention any temperature control issues then. After checking the workshop manual, it suggests running a complete sensor diagnostic test, but I wanted to get community feedback before spending money on potentially unnecessary repairs. The climate issues persist even after clearing the fault codes. The automatic temperature control remains completely unresponsive while manual fan settings still function normally.

Based on the error code P0531 and the gradual onset of the climate control issues youre describing, this seems different from my cable connection problem. After dealing with my Golf issue, I encountered similar symptoms again last year, but this time it actually was the temperature sensor itself that failed. The fact that your manual fan control still works but the automatic climate control doesnt respond points strongly toward a faulty HVAC sensor rather than a wiring issue. When my sensor eventually failed, I noticed the same pattern, manual controls worked fine while automatic temperature control became completely unresponsive. The diagnostic test revealed my temperature sensor had degraded over time, which matches your gradual onset description. The sensor replacement cost was 180€ including labor, and it completely resolved the climate control problems. What particularly stands out is that your issues persist after clearing the codes. This was exactly my experience with the failed sensor, unlike the previous connection issue which would temporarily improve after a reset. Given your description and comparing it to my experience, I strongly suggest having the temperature sensor replaced rather than just tested. The symptoms align perfectly with a failing sensor unit rather than a connection problem.

Thanks for the detailed comparison of both scenarios. Your second experience definitely matches my situation more closely. Going to book the car in next week for the sensor replacement since all signs point to that being the core issue. Its reassuring to know the full HVAC sensor replacement came in around 180€, gives me a good benchmark for what to expect. The gradual failure pattern and especially how the fault codes keep coming back matches exactly what Im seeing. Plus, the fact that automatic temperature control is completely dead while manual settings work is too similar to be coincidence. Climate regulation problems are always frustrating, but at least this seems like a straightforward fix rather than a complex system failure. Will update once the repair is done in case anyone else runs into similar temperature reading issues with their Beetle.