Sensor for Evaporator Outlet Temperature (G263)

[humps]

VAG-COM check showed this fault code:

00818 - Sensor for Evaporator Outlet Temperature (G263) *****
30-00 - Open or Short to Plus

This probably explains why my air-con wasn't always pumping out cold cold air in the summer. It only managed some cold-ish air. However, my climate control has always had A/C because I compared it under econ mode and the condenser was replaced in Mar05 as part of a repair, so it could be my sensor is half borken... What do people think? Is the part 6Q0 907 543 D ?

Also, earlier this year, one weired drive, I went through all weather in one day (Sunny, windy, big/small hail storm, fog, rain and big snow). It was when I hit a sudden down pour of thick snow, my car's interior misted up really badly and quickly, I had to slow right down because I couldn't see a thing at 50mph! I had to use the demister for the first time! No doubt the A/C was switched off suddenly, but was it to do with the outside temp change? I've had driven through freezing weather but the climate and always sucked out the moisture and my A2 never misted...

[spike]

Hi humps
As we discussed at ADI, this is what happened to my car.
My interpretation is that the evapourator outlet temp senser continually monitors the cold, dry air entering the cabin and compares this with the output of the other cabin sensors and the temp dialled into the climate control. The air con compressor is then signalled to work harder if more cold air is required. If the G263 sensor fails then my guess is the climate control uses a default setting, allowing the system to continue working at reduced efficiency which cannot cope with very hot or humid condions.
The sensor p/n above is the one I changed on my car. It cost £15.03 + vat a year ago. The bad news is that replacement involves removal of the dashboard. I tried every way possible to avoid this even after removing the dash I could not see an easier way of doing the job.
The attached illustration shows the location of the sensor - this shows a LHD car so the positions are reversed for RHD
The only thing I did not investigate was the possibility of doing more checks on the sensor before removal - tracing the wires back to accessible pin-outs for example for checking with a meter

Cheers Spike

[humps]

thanks spike, I've done a bit of googling around and found various non english websites talking about the G263 sensor on different models upto the A8. It seems your idea of CC working at some default efficiency make sense. Since the part is so cheap, I'll order the part anyway. I think I have the whole christmas to play with it, while looking out for a double DIN dash ;-)