I'm replacing my P/S pump and figured I should replace the high-pressure hose at the same time. I picked up a replacement at a local parts store. My question is this: why does the original hose have a sensor of some sort built into the hose? The new hose doesn't have this sensor or even a fitting for it? What is this sensor and if I unplug it from the harness what will this do the the comp? Thanks

 

The sensor you are seeing is a high pressure switch designed to disable the A/C compressor when the P/S pressure gets too high. (like, when you have the steering wheel turned all the way to the lock.) This was originally intended to prevent engine stall if both conditions existed at the same time...... You may want to check with your vendor, and see if they have the hose with the fitting for the sensor.

 

I called the dealer. The OEM hose is a whopping $71.99. I'm going to see if I can't just leave the current one on as its not cracked. I'll take back the 14.00 replacement hose. Thanks

 

You should be able to get the right replacement hose from an aftermarket supplier. Try a different brand or look in the book yourself, someone probably missed that there were 2 different hoses used.

 

Replace the hose. Use the one you already have.

Just put a jumper wire in the plug, and don't turn the steering wheel all the way to lock when the A/C is on.

 

[Replace the hose. Use the one you already have.

Just put a jumper wire in the plug, and don't turn the steering wheel all the way to lock when the A/C is on.

Or else what - will the engine stall under these conditions? Thanks.

 

Will it stall? I doubt it. My TA doesnt have a pressure sensor.

 

My 83 Z28 doesn't have one. Any V8 should have enough .... ummm... reproductive glands to keep from stalling under those conditions.

 

Then why was it there originally? I'm not trying to be a smartass - just curious as GM wouldn't spend money on something if they didn't have to...

 

I would suspect that they needed it for the 4-cyl and 6-cyl cars, so rather than having special lower-production pieces for the V8 cars, they used the same ones for them all... sometimes in mass production it's cheaper to make them all the same than it is to leave little stuff off of a few

 

The high pressure hose with the sensor($71.99 from Gm) was used ONLY on the fast ratio PS boxes on the IROC's and not on
4 or 6 cyl. cars which used the $14.00 one.

 

I have a '89 RS L03. So I guess it has the high ratio box which necessitates the hose with the pressure switch?

P.S. The hose itself is $71.99, the pressure switch is another $30 - nice huh.

 

Hmmmm.

All 3 of my thirdgens had the high ratio steering boxes, and not a single one had the sensor. The LG4 in my dads Grand Prix with comparatively low ratio steering did have the sensor.

I dont think it has anything to do with high or low ratio, I think it has more to do with total power output and idle RPM, both of which are the lowest for a V8 with the LG4 and LO3.

 

My 92 RS (W/F41 Suspension) came with the pressure switch.I converted to braided stainless teflon-lined hoses a couple months ago and drilled & tapped a fuel pressure adapter block (-6AN)
to fit the switch.
Anyway, I was short one fitting when I put it back together and left the switch out, figuring I'd install it later when I got another hose end.
Hasn't caused me any problems, leaving it out completely.
-Rich-

 

My '86 TA doesn't have the pressure cutout, and it has the WS6/high effort steering box. It also has the 305 Teepee Eye, and you don't get much less power output than that...

I suspect there may have been several ThirdGen cars that had the switch, but would expect to see them more on V-6 and L-4 engines. Most other GM vehicles with smaller engines used the pressure cutout to prevent stalling under heavy steering loads at low RPMs. I know that my ECM doesn't even use the input, but some do.