[NickD]

AC is disabled by the ambient temperature sensor if the readed temperature is below about 35*F, -40*F will definitely disable it.

Sounds like you have connectivity problems, not new, my 70 Buick had the same problem.

Have to drop the front under bumper cover to get at it, and as said, located behind the left fog light or bezel. If that front cover is still there, is a used vehicle after all.

Sounds like it is erratic, has two terminals on the connector that more than likely corroded, can be cleaned and should be good to go again, or that sensor may have to be replaced. Let us know what you find.

 

[NickD]

No need to remove the bumper, just that small front cover underneath.

Ha, OE fog light kit said to remove the bumper for installation. Only reason was two phillips head screws had to be inserted at the very end. Just used my 90 degree screwdriver, saved a lot of worthless work. Also had to unplug that ambient sensor from the old bezel, was plugged into the new one with a hole in it for the fog lamp.

 

[NickD]

Suppose the good news is that front under cover was still there, bad news is no sensor. Some guessed that connector was not fully plugged in, my guess with intermittent operation, was a corroded connector. One reason why your AC would operate occasionally, those two wires were shorting out, showing a higher temperature.

Buy any chance, does this car have fog lamps installed? One reason why that sensor could be missing. Where did you buy this thing from? If a dealer, where is my ambient sensor?

Purchased my Cruze new, dealer really hit me for dealer installed items, one in particular was so-called splash shields, said no thanks, saw your work, can't even put these thing on straight. What about those plastic tabs in your bezel, the sensor snaps into, are those broken off?

 

[NickD]

Circuit and resistance versus temperature table, hope this helps.