Climatronic problem

[guthrie]

Thanks again for the tipoff guthrie!

No problem... I am surprised more people aren't having this issue.

Is the sensor easy to get out of the dash?

Takes a bit of levering with a flat blade screw driver. Be careful not to scratch the plastic. Once it is out you can disconnect the sensor and mask it... then reconnect it and clip it back into the dash.

[Fatherless One]

Excellent thread as I'm having an issue with my Sportline's air-con not cooling down enough too.

So the sensor is the thing at the front (closest to windscreen) of the dash vent?

And are you saying if I cover that the air con will be colder?

[clip]

And are you saying if I cover that the air con will be colder?

No, the opposite problem sorry Fatherless- mine was running too cold. Seems this sensor likes to think because it's a bright day it needs to work harder, but it's way over the top. Covering it tricks it into thinking it's night time and doesn't need to blow so hard. At least that's the only way I can make sense of it. Anyway, it works perfectly now - I don't have to run it at 26+ to stop it from freezing off my extremeties! Keep it at 24 and just nice.

You've got the right sensor though, but covering it will probably make it worse for you.

[Fatherless One]

Cheers clip,

I'll have to get my car into an air-con specialist, would you recommend VW themselves or any air-con place?

[victim]

Interesting reading - am I the only 2011 Golf GTI owner with exactly the same issue? Climatronic works perfectly (set to 22 or 23) at night or in overcast conditions, but as soon as I drive in full sun the fan and a/c ramp right up to full ice blast. I've tried to leave it to see if it will back off eventually, but I always end up having to turn it off.

I've tried covering different parts of my dash, but can't seem to find the sensor.

It is definitely caused by the sensor over compensating, as I can sit in an undercover car park and everything works fine. As soon as I drive out into the sunshine, the system winds up and starts to blast.

[clip]

It is definitely caused by the sensor over compensating, as I can sit in an undercover car park and everything works fine. As soon as I drive out into the sunshine, the system winds up and starts to blast.

yep that's it exactly! Now, not sure where it is on the GTI, but on the Tiguan and Passat it is located in the centre of the dash where the vents are. It's got to be there somewhere. Do you have a glossy looking bit of plastic molded into the centre of the dash forward towards the windscreen?

[kleung]

Excellent thread as I'm having an issue with my Sportline's air-con not cooling down enough too.

My R36 is going in for its service next Wednesday, and poor AC performance is one of the items on the list to be looked at.

Given that AC temperature is something that no two people will ever agree on, I'd be interested to see what the actual air temp coming out of the vents is, vs the ambient air temp, the climatronic setting and the prevailing conditions (sunny, cloudy, etc). I have a multimeter that has a temperature probe attachment, so I'll try to remember to bring it with me the next time the weather warms up.

Just last Saturday when it was about 30C and overcast in Melbourne. I was driving home from Box Hill with the AC going (set to auto-high @ 22C), and after 10 minutes, the air coming out of the vents was still barely cool, and the fans were still going full wellie. MFD said that the outside temp was about 32C. To me, that is unacceptable performance of the AC.

[Steve]

For what it's worth, the Climatronic on my R36 (200 works juuuuuust fine. It's normally set to 18 degrees, AC on, auto off. Though sometimes in winter I set it to 24 degrees. It doesn't seem to go crazy or do anything I don't like. Couldn't be happier with it, to be honest.

[Gray Ghost]

For what it's worth I have a MK6 GTI MY12 and it has the same issue re: freezing your bit's off. I plan to raise the issue with VW Aust and I would like to hear from others with this same problem.

If it is an issue that effects only vehicle's that are shipped to locations around the globe where the sun shines a little brighter then I believe that VW should come up with a solution and not leave it up to the paying public. When you consider what you pay for your ride in Aust then you should at least get an in car climate control system that works!

My Renault Clio Sport has a climate control system and you simply set the temp and you get the cabin temp that you have set and you do not have to drive around in your long Johns on a day over 30deg chipping ice of the side of your face and seek treatment for the frost bite on your fingers and look a bit strange when you embark from your vehicle at the beach.

On the serious side it would appear that clip his applied his extraordinary engineering talent and saved the day for us unworthy sun loving Aussies with his incredible temporary fix to this very cold subject. Clip I applaud you and would have nominated you for Aussie of the year but sadly I am being treated for frost bite!

It may be some time before I can get to a dealership re: this issue but armed with this information from clip I will start making some enquiries at VW Aust so please anyone out there that wants to come in from the cold please let us here from you on this thread it is only when we get enough people jumping up and down about issues like this do we get some action.

In closing just remember that the "squeaky wheel gets the most oil".

[R34]

The VW dealer didn't like my "climate control calibrator" and had turned it over to hide the writing when I picked up the car after a service.
Let us know how you go with it Gray Ghost but I fear that with VW's track record for customer service you'll get nowhere.
Funny how my 15 year old GTR AC works perfectly permanently set at 23 all year round (and my previous 07 A3 for that matter)