QuestionHi Roland... I have a 2002 PT Cruiser w/Manual Transmission. The OBD trouble light has been on intermittantly the past few months with no apparent problems w/the running of the vehicle. Unfortunately I was unable to 'pass' my annual car inspection because i was told that having the switch reset by the inspector still did not allow him to check certain components(?). He suggested i put an addition 50-60 miles on the car and come back to rechk to see if the car would pass. The light was out when i left the facility, and stayed out for about 3 days. It is now back on, and i've yet to go back to the inspection station thinking i will have to take it to a shop to have it checked. I was told the problem was with the "power steering pressure sensor circuit range/performance". The inspector also commented that chrysler was the only people that had this item on their vehicles and he said so far he has yet to see what use they have been and are more a nuisance than anything...wasn't exactly sure what he meant by that. Can you shed any light on this sensor and if i am about to incur mondo repairs?
AnswerHi Denise,
The pressure sense switch has the purpose of increasing the idle speed when you are trying to park the car and having to turn the steering wheel when you are moving very slowly or not at all. It is a simple device that screws into power steering gear and has a wire that is connected to the engine computer. When the pressure demand increases the switch opens and that sends a voltage signal to increase the idle, when the pressure drops to normal the switch closes and the idle speed goes back to normal. The check engine light means the engine computer didn't detect any signal from the switch when it should have seen it.
It could either be the switch is not responding as it should or the wires (dark blue/orange and black) from the switch to the engine computer or chassis ground is disconnected. It is under the car so may have simply been mechanically disconnected by having gotten caught on something (just plug it back into the switch).
It would be simple for some one with minimal skills to jack up one side of the vehicle, go to the power steering gear, locate the switch on the rear side, find the two electrical wires on it or nearby to see if they are connected and in good condition. He could even verify the dark blue/orange wire connection is patent from the switch to pin 45 of the engine computer, and also that a second wire (black in color) at the switch is connected to the chassis ground point nearby on the upper edge of the firewall and also close behind the engine controller plug that carries wires #41-80. He would use a continuity tester or ohmmeter to verify the connections. If the wires are connected properly to the switch and in turn they are connected to the points I described, then I would believe the switch itself if not working properly and should be replaced, which is a simple unscrew/screw-in procedure using a 7/8" deep well socket and being careful not to overtighten it (6 foot-pounds torque, maximum). It should cost around $10 for the switch. The labor time should be 1/2 hour or so.
Roland
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PPS Thanks for the rating and nomination. I corrected an error in the last paragraph about the wire colors. Sorry for the error.
