What do the vacuum lines coming from the steering pump do? I'm replacing the pump and accidentally broke off one of the plastic pieces. Is it that important?

 

Here is a pic to help with what im talking about

 

It is supposed to boost the engine idle speed if you try and turn the front wheels while at a stop. That VSV atop the pump opens under steering fluid pressure and send engine vacuum to the idle up valve (thing with the white plastic knob atop it) on the intake (22RE engine photo, the 3.0V6 may be different):

 

thanks 4crawler,
I thought it was something like that. W/ the vacuum lines plugged, it shouldn't effect idle w/o being hooked up, as long as the pump inst under pressure right?

 

With the lines pluuged, it has no affect at all. My lines are all capped off as my current pump does not have that VSV screwed into it.

 

It goes to a fitting on the back of the intake manifold.

I broke the fitting off the back of the intake manifold on my v6. Diddnt know it until I went back there to troubleshoot a unrelated problem. Never had any steering problems. Just plug the line and you will be just fine.

 

Hmm..I had one of those clog or somethin, every time I would hit the brakes, the pump would squeal, and it would be real hard to turn the wheel, luck i found another for free and it fixed my prob, but it would seem that one of those line did have something to do with the brake booster.

 

Actually that valve is for the AC, not the PS. The power steering vacuum lines should plug directly into the intake (or into lines that run into the intake, in the 3VZ's case)

 

Same idle up valve is used for the power steering as well. The blocked off port (red vacuum cap in the above photo) is where one of the vacuum lines from the p/s VSV would connect.

Below is a shot showing where both of the P/S pump vacuum lines normally connect to (both capped with red plugs):


I've not had a p/s pump with that VSV on it for years now and don't really miss the idle up feature (not that it ever seemed to work on my '85). On the rare occasion it is needed, I can always hit the gas pedal a bit to bump it the engine RPMs for a little extra steering boost.

 

Had to replace one of those valves,when I replaced my power steering pump. Sit down,was $160+ at Toyota.

 

both sides where broke off on my V6 and it was part of my idle problems I had.
capped them both off and never looked back.

 

capped them and haven't had a problem

 

I just hooked this stuff up. As you have stated, those capped ports (when in use) go to the power steering pump. Does it matter which one goes to which port on the pump? I have looked through the FSM and Chiltons books, but there are no diagrams for this.

 

does not matter wich on is on wich port just as long as both are hooked up or pluged

 

Where can I get those caps? Hardware store item or auto parts specific store?

 

Most any auto parts store should carry those. I think I bought a whole assortment of various sized caps from JC Whitney many years ago, they come in handy for capping brake lines if you need to work on the brakes, etc.

 

I just removed all components of my AC including the item in the ducting under the dash. Probably 150 lbs of crap with compressor and all it's mounting hardware.
If I remove the VSV for the AC and the air control valve from the power steering pump,
can I also remove the "idle up valve" too? That thing with the white plastic screw on top??

 

I have an 85 or 86 22RE, two lines come off of my switch, one runs to a vac nipple on the EFI, the other to the 90* nipple, next to the thermostat housing, assumed that one moved coolant, apparently not.

 

That VSV atop the pump opens under steering fluid pressure and send engine vacuum to the idle up valve