The air conditioning lines on the Ford Ranger have two different types of connections. The lines at the compressor are attached to a manifold, while the lines to the other components are screwed directly into the components themselves. The high and low pressure lines from the compressor to the dryer -- or accumulator, depending on the year and engine -- or directly to the evaporator, are an assembly attached by the manifold.
Drive the vehicle to a shop that has a reclaimer and that is certified in reclaiming Freon. You cannot vent Freon to the atmosphere. Have the shop vacuum the system and remove the Freon.
Remove the lines from the back of the compressor by removing the bolt in the center of the manifold. Remove and discard the O-rings.
Remove the lines from the dryer or accumulator by unscrewing them with the appropriate line wrench. If the lines go into the evaporator, remove them with the line wrench.
Unscrew the lines at the condenser, using the appropriate line wrench. If only the lines at one of the components need to be replaced, remove only those lines. You do not have to change every line, unless they all leak, which is seldom.
