VW T-Cross Climate Control Fails After Shop Visit

Had the same climate control issue on a 2017 VW Polo TSI. The symptoms matched exactly, weak heating and inconsistent air distribution through vents. Initially thought it was just the blower motor, but diagnostic revealed a broken actuator for the defrost flap. The main problem was a damaged wiring harness connection to the HVAC control module. Previous work near the dashboard panel had likely disturbed the cables. This caused intermittent communication errors between the control unit and the flap motors. The repair required partial dashboard removal to access and replace the damaged wiring connector and recalibrate the system. Not a simple job since accessing the components behind the climate control unit is quite involved. While this was a serious repair due to the labor-intensive nature, the actual parts were not expensive. The windshield fogging issues and poor temperature control completely resolved after fixing the connection. Would recommend having a specialist check the wiring connections first before replacing any mechanical components. Worth noting that these symptoms often appear suddenly after other repair work near the dashboard area. Always good to have the shop verify all connections are secure after any work involving removal of interior panels.

Sounds very similar to what I went through with my T-Cross last winter. The air circulation was terrible and heating barely worked after a routine service. Had exactly those symptoms, weak airflow and erratic temperature control. My case also turned out to be a wiring issue affecting the HVAC system. The blower motor was fine, but the connections needed fixing. The dashboard panel had to come apart to sort it properly. The air distribution is working perfectly now but wondering about your repair costs. My bill seemed high for what was essentially a wiring fix. Have you noticed any other issues since getting it repaired? Sometimes these electrical gremlins can come back.

Thanks for asking about the repair costs. I paid 95€ to fix the defective cable connection for the defrost air distribution flap in my Polo. The ventilation system has worked flawlessly since then, no more issues with air circulation or temperature control. The mechanic found the exact problem quickly since they had seen similar cases where the blower motor worked but the flap controls were compromised by loose connections. The heater core and overall air distribution are back to normal operation now. Looking back, while removing parts of the dashboard was needed, the repair price was reasonable given the diagnostic work and careful reassembly required. The most important thing is having a properly working climate control system again, especially for windshield defrosting in cold weather. The key was finding a mechanic familiar with HVAC control issues in these models. They knew exactly where to look for the wiring problem rather than just replacing parts unnecessarily.

Glad I asked about your experience. After reading this, I finally went to get my T-Cross fixed last week. The mechanic found damaged wiring near the climate control unit, just like in your case. The blower motor was functioning but the system wasnt getting proper signals. The repair took about 3 hours since they had to remove parts of the dashboard to access the HVAC unit. Cost me 120€ total, which seems fair considering the work involved. The air circulation is perfect now and the windshield fogging issue is completely gone. Really appreciate the advice about finding a specialist. The mechanic I chose specializes in climate control systems and spotted the problem right away. No more weak heating or temperature control problems. Should have done this sooner instead of waiting and getting frustrated with poor heating performance.