<VV> JB Weld

[Padgett]

On the Buick 3800 engine it is common after 10 years or so for the plastic 
that holds the cam sensor magnet on the cam sprocket to disintegrate 
resulting in the dread "code 41".

According to the shop manual, when this happens the "official" fix requires 
pulling the timing cover, timing chain, and sprockets, an all day job, 
because the interrupter (magnet) is designed to be installed from the back 
of the camshaft sprocket.

When mine disintegrated I heard of a 20 minute fix involving removing the 
base of the magnet, inserting into the sprocket from the front and through 
the cam sensor hole, and using JB Weld to hold it in place. I repaired mine 
this way in 2002 and it is still going strong and have heard from quite a 
few other people using the same technique with no failures reported.
(for a complete description see http://padgett.ws/cars/cammag.htm  Also is 
currently the third item on Google if given 3800 "code 41")

Since the atmosphere inside the timing cover is hardly benign, I think this 
is a good indicator of its resistance. BTW as to plastic, I have also had 
good success with using it to repair plastic radiator tanks that crack 
until a replacement can be found.

Padgett