For the last couple of weeks, it smelled even worse than usual...

Then yesterday the air condition was not working so well and white smoke was coming out of the vents.

Took it to the garage today and they checked it out, they found the A/C drain was blocked, the system had filled with water that had gone bad.

They could blow the water out of the system via the drain and now it is full of some strong chemical which will take days to disinfect the system.

Note for the future, check from time to time if the usual puddle of condensed water from the A/C is on the garage floor.

My garage controls my A/C on regular basis.

I can tell because every time I get it back from them, the thing is on yet I never use it.

My garage has absolutely no control over my uncle. I often have to drag him out from under the car.

Even if you're happy driving without AC, it can help to use it from time to time. It keeps the pump lubricated, is good for the compressed refrigeration gas and might help prevent the problem marton's just had. Just a few minutes at a time, in all seasons.

You actually should run your AC year round. https://www.coolcaraircon.co.uk/usin...ll-year-round/

Be thankful that you have a Stinky Megane rather than a Stinky Sanchez.

Actually that crossed my mind too. For a while I remembered to do it. Now I'm back on relying on my garage-guys. Let's face it, we didn't have many days when the weather reminded me of it this summer.

Of course this may be difficult for Renault owners as it's not easy to see if the oil on the floor contains any water.

LOL. Reminds me of my Mini Metros. A new bit of cardboard underneath every month.
At least the oil was always fresh and golden.

Or a stinky MR2, or Pajero for that matter.

Or just forego A/C all together.

Using A/C uses less fuel than driving with the windows open, just saying.

Not with my generation car/AC it doesn't.
When that thing is on, I can literally watch the fuel gauge go down. I.am.not.kidding.

It's not just that, more that I always get ill in A/C places, and going in/out of A/C really does a number on my health. CH is a place where it just isn't necessary.

Not a public transport user, right? Once the AC failed in the IC5 and I still remember it

That will depend on the speed. At 30 or 50km/h the open windows seem unlikely to make much of a difference.

I used to drive 50,000 km a year in CH, very little was at 30 or even 50km/h. OK with start stop the engine won't always cut out when in traffic with the A/C on. Most Swiss cars must have Start Stop today?

Same here. Even in Africa and South America I kept them off. Much to the dismay of the people with me.
Ceiling fans are good enough. My sensation of heat is at a higher level than average apparently. At 20°C in the shadow I wear quilted vests and yes, over the years many Swiss laughed at me for doing so. I can live with that though.

Well I much appreciated the cff/sbb of yesteryears when you could pull down the glass. Whoever bought these closed sardine canisters with no possibilities to do the same and no alternative should be fired. The move to a/C on buses is also a joke when fully packed and doors opening all the time. More humane with windows that open cause the level of any so-called cooling is non-existant. The only time I almost passed out due to heat was on a bus that was reportedly air conditioned with closed windows and packed with so many people the temperature was higher inside than outside.

That was you, other people will use their cars differently.
No idea, you're asking the wrong person. Mine doesn't, it's about ten years old by now.