Scott,

When you turn your steering wheel, this sensor opens an air valve which
allows the engine to maintain speed even though the steering is giving a
horsepower drain.  You have a similar valve for your AC unit.  They are the
two little boxes in the upper right corner of the engine compartment (a
couple inches toward the front of the vehicle from your air flow meter).
Won't hurt to run without it for a while, but it will keep your van from
stalling if your idle is low to start out with.

Karl Wolz
-----Original Message-----
From: Stucco <spaddock@DEN.WANTWEB.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 7:07 PM
Subject: sensor switch question

>Ok, so today I started up the old Vanagon and heard an unusual sound that I
>figured wasn't healthy.  After searching around a bit I dicovered the
>source- low power steering fluid.  I filled the tank and saw an active leak
>from what I'm guessing to be a pressure sensor mounted just off the pump.
>It's probably 1-1.25" or so with a hex base like a big bolt, and has a
black
>plastic tip with two metal connectors sticking out of it.  MY QUESTION:
What
>do the leads from that connect to?  Obviously not an idiot light, so what
>gives?  I called the dealer to find the replacement cost and they are
>telling me $26 and can't get it in stock till next week.  So I took a
>temperature sensor from some other VW that had the same threading and no
>possible way to leak and capped the line to get around and be eco-friendly
>and all that.  Do I really need to take this any further?  Thanks as always
>to all!
>
>Scott Paddock
>'87 Vanagon Wolfsburg "Rolf"
>'93 Eurovan GL "unnamed"
>