Lost my Power Steering

[Granddaddy Marq]

On my way home from the Southern Marauder Breakfast, I blew the pressure sensor on the high pressure power steering line. None of the quicky auto parts places list this part. They do have the whole line with a plug to block it off. There is a part # on it 98AB-3N824. My son found it on Rockauto listed on an 03 Town car. So my questions are:
What it the sensor for?
What does it tell the car to do?
Can I continue to run with it blocked off?
Does anybody have one of these things laying around they want to get rid of? I'm going to call the dealer today.
And why is that line so long? What was Ford thinking when they came up with that? It goes from the pump across the car u-turns goes back across the car to the rack. WHY?

[Zack]

It is a long line to aid in cooling of the fluid most likely.

[RF Overlord]

Is it just the sensor that's damaged, not the line itself?

Had an issue with Mary's car a while back and found there are 2 different sensors used with no apparent rhyme or reason. One has a round connector and the other a square one. Her car has one and mine the other. Both are available from Rock Auto, but one is listed under '03 Crown Vic, IIRC.

I agree with Zack's assessment about the cooling...

I believe the switch detects an increase in pressure and tells the PCM to raise the engine speed slightly to compensate.

[Granddaddy Marq]

It is the sensor. Fluid is going strait though it, and comes out the square connector. One of the dealers I've talked to, seems to think it has something to do with the electric assist steering. Depending on the dealer they're $64 to $74.

[Franman]

Check if you have a fuse blown- Pink one close to the edge - $5

[Granddaddy Marq]

Rockauto it is. $32.33 should be here by this weekend. But I still may have damaged my pump. It ran a long time with out fluid in it.