32 minutes ago, Marlburian said:

Opinions are divided about how often to top up

Should never need a 'Top up'. I'd suggest you've a leaking system. The Condenser is a very likely candidate.

15 minutes ago, Rob101 said:

Should never need a 'Top up'. I'd suggest you've a leaking system. The Condenser is a very likely candidate.

Or a compressor, or a seal, or a pipe.... You'll never know till you put some fluorescent dye in the system, then determine where it leaks out. It's a very young car to have faulty A/C though, unlucky...

I had excellent service from the A/C specialist who'd diagnosed a leaking condenser. He collected and delivered my car, and showed me a photo of the front panel removed, with the condenser packed in among everything else. He said it had been awkward to work on, and had probably undercharged me, but put it down to experience. The bill was £485.

I wonder what a Ford dealer would have charged ...

He left me an A4 sheet advising on ideal usage of the A/C, confirming what Stephen told me on July 18, above.

 

2 hours ago, Marlburian said:

I had excellent service from the A/C specialist who'd diagnosed a leaking condenser. He collected and delivered my car, and showed me a photo of the front panel removed, with the condenser packed in among everything else. He said it had been awkward to work on, and had probably undercharged me, but put it down to experience. The bill was £485.

I wonder what a Ford dealer would have charged ...

He left me an A4 sheet advising on ideal usage of the A/C, confirming what Stephen told me on July 18, above.

 

Good that you've got it sorted. As I said, the Condenser is a very likely candidate, and it as turned out, was the case here.