It goes on the power steering pump. On any other part of the engine it would be called Vacuum Switch(ing) Valve... but I can't seem to find it by that name.

power steering idle up I think

Hmm, some kind of low level sensor perhaps? Now to go look through parts catalogs...

This post has been edited by Box: Aug 10, 2013 - 8:39 PM

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It's not a sensor, definitely. It has no kind of electrical connector. Just 2 vacuum hoses that I believe are the ones that the pump sucks through to get power from the engine but I could be mistaken.

Anyhow it's a solenoid or valve of some sort, just not electronic.

Only thing I could find with a quick look was power steering pressure sensor. Which was for OBDII models, so I don't know. Is there any kind of part number on it?

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Nope

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Yes, that's what it is but that's not what it's called...

Found at least one reference of it on another toyota engine. Mine looks the same based on the diagram picture (which on Toyotas is fairly accurate)

its just a vac switching valve that creates a small vac leak @ full steering lock to compensate for the extra drag it creates on the motor when you go full lock.

Another update:



That's the part number for it, and it costs $75 new from Toyota... It's the same as on a lot of other Toyota SUVs of the same generation (90-99ish) which have the valve elsewhere (right next to the P/S reservoir)

@Presure2: Yes, that's exactly what it does. I'll just cap it and avoid full steering lock. The valve is also known to leak P/S fluid into the intake when it goes bad, and it's really not that useful.

This post has been edited by Syaoran: Aug 10, 2013 - 9:14 PM

Great mystery solved. For $75 forget about it.

This post has been edited by Box: Aug 10, 2013 - 9:17 PM

That's where mine leaks at! I ended up getting a whole new remaned since it leaks out so fast and the pump has been ran dry a couple times but I've yet to put it on

Edit: Nm I guess you found it! hahaha.

This post has been edited by travisxcore: Aug 10, 2013 - 9:20 PM