VW Crafter Electric Heater Fault Linked to Solar Sensor

Last month I addressed a similar heating issue on my 2020 VW ID.4. The symptoms matched, reduced HVAC performance with error codes. The sunlight sensor fault was indeed triggering incorrect temperature readings, causing the system to miscalculate the required heating output. The root cause was a damaged connector at the HVAC sensor assembly. The automotive sensor wiring had degraded due to constant heat exposure, creating intermittent connection issues. The temperature sensor was also affected, leading to erratic climate control behavior. This turned out to be a significant repair requiring: Complete removal of the dashboard trim, Replacement of the entire sensor cluster, Rewiring of the HVAC sensor connections, System recalibration The job took several hours to complete properly. While not immediately dangerous, leaving it unrepaired could lead to complete climate control failure and potential damage to other HVAC components. Consider having a professional diagnostic scan done. The error codes will pinpoint whether your issue matches the sensor fault pattern commonly seen in VW electric vans.

Thanks for sharing that repair info about the HVAC sensor fault. This exactly matches what my Crafter is doing. Good to know about the wiring degradation causing these sensor issues. Did you remember roughly how much the full repair cost? Also, has everything been working properly since the sensor calibration and rewiring, or have you noticed any other quirks with the climate control? My local shop quoted me for the diagnostic scan next week, but I want to get an idea of the potential full repair costs if they find the same sensor problems you described.

Took my ID.4 to the mechanic last week and thankfully the fix was much simpler than initially expected. The sunlight sensor fault was resolved by repairing a loose cable connection, no need for the complete dashboard removal we originally thought might be required. The total repair came to 95€, which included fault detection and fixing the defective connector. The sensor calibration was performed as part of the service, and since then the climate control has been working flawlessly. No more error codes or heating performance issues. Your Crafter might have a similar straightforward fix if the automotive sensor wiring is just loose rather than degraded. Worth getting that diagnostic scan to confirm. These sensor faults often turn out to be connector issues rather than requiring full component replacement. Good to know the shop is checking it soon, hopefully yours will be a simple fix like mine was rather than the more complex repair I first experienced.

Just got back from the mechanic and I have good news. The daylight sensor in my Crafter had a similar loose connection issue. The fault detection scan showed the HVAC sensor was functioning but had a poor connection causing intermittent failures. Total cost was 120€ for diagnostics and repair. The mechanic completed the work in about an hour, much quicker than I expected. They cleaned the connector, secured it properly, and ran a full calibration of the sensor system. The heating is now working perfectly and all error codes have cleared. Such a relief it turned out to be a minor fix rather than the major repair job I was worried about. Really glad I got it checked out before winter sets in.