I've got a '91 Aerostar that has a power steering leak. I've traced it to the pressure hose assembly on the steering gear which drips badly when the engine is running. There is a sensor of some sort on the line and that's where the leak is coming from. My question is, can this sensor be replaced by itself (and what is it), or does the entire line need to be replaced?

Thanks.

 

It's a switch that closes when the pressure in the hose rises to some setpoint. The closed switch tells the ECM to bump up the idle speed proactively to compensate for the extra load on the PS pump, rather than wait for the engine speed to drop and then try to compensate it.

The switch is available separately and is easily replaced. It is NAPA No. "ECH PS304" and retails for about $28.

It would be interesting to see what Ford/Motorcraft gets for one.

Regards,
Al S.

 

I was looking locally at Kragen and replacing the whole pressure line is only $36, so it isn't much of a savings to do the switch as opposed to the whole line, but I'll have to see what they're charging.


Of course, Ford will probably charge $80 for the switch.

 

NAPA sells the line separate from the switch, ie the line does not come with the switch.

3.0l (style 1)


3.0l (style 2)


4.0l


None of these is anywhere close to $36 .

Regards,
Al S.

 

I was looking at the Kragen site and they have the line for $36. You're probably right though, it wouldn't include the switch.

 

I replaced that hose on my 96 3.0 Aero and the old line didn't have that sensor or a place for it.

When I got the new hose from Autozone and it had a place for the sensor at the parts store it seemed ok I didn't take a look at the hose on the van prior. I come home take the old hose off and realize the old hose doesn't have that part so after scratching my head for awhile I decide since the hoses have identical bends I'll just get a plug for the hole on the new hose and be on my way.

Heres a short and kind of funny story about that.

I went to numerous auto shops for a plug and they didn't have the right size since the hole on the hose was metric.

I tell a guy at Strauss Auto what I need it for and he says the hose should have come with a plug and I say well it didn't I finally buy a hose from them the same one I bought from Autozone with a plug included I am just about ready to open the package from the other place and put the hose from Autozone in its bag and what do I find? The missing plug it was supposed to be taped to the hose but it fell to the bottom of the bag which wasn't see through well that was a trip back to return the other hose I'll never forget .

Now if my Aero was normal and had the sensor I would have never gone through so much frustration .

It is common for some Aeros not to have this sensor?

 

I replaced the switch today and everything is fine now. Went to Napa and they were out of stock. It ended up being the mother of one of my daughter's friends behind the counter (had no idea she worked there). She said they could get it by 2pm but I needed the job finished by noon so off I went to Kragen, who had it in stock.


Next stop... figuring out this stupid electrical problem.

 

This is the first time I've heard of one that didn't! Live & Learn