The auto parts shops want like $96 for this part. Fuck that, we had a friend go get this one from a Barry's U-Pull-It junkyard, but apparently he didn't realize the bolt mount brass insert hole support area was crumbling apart ☹️
Regardless, he had the sensor tested and it checked out good. But I can't in any good faith install the part when the single bolt hole mount was about to literally fall out of it.
So, after about 3 hours of careful creativity, some super glue to secure the parts, JB Quik Weld as a filler for the missing plastic, careful filing, shaping and leveling of flat surfaces, and a zip tie around the whole thing to make sure as best as I can that the filler doesn't break loose, and this is what I came up with.
I do hope this part still works after all the cleaning chemicals (Goof-Off and rubbing alcohol), super glue and epoxy, I do hope the part still works when I get to installing it tomorrow.
And yes, I also had to patch up cracks in the back side where the 3 wire harness comes out too. Assuming optimistically that the sensor still works, we're already planning for this to be a temporary replacement until we can get a new one ordered online for like $20 or so, because fuck $96 for a damn sensor!
JB quick weld... that the putty stuff with the metalic flake?
It does have some iron in the mix yes, but it's not enough to register any conductivity on my multimeter in my experience. Also, the JB isn't touching any bare wires, it's mostly there as a filler for the missing plastic chunk.
The back side patch repair around the 3 wire harness also aren't directly exposed to bare wires either, thankfully. But I did have to super glue over some cracks on the back side, then after that dried I filled around that area with JB as well.
I've got my fingers crossed that this part still checks out and works after these redneck repairs, but this definitely isn't my first merry go round patching brittle plastic or working with electronics.
Hey, I'll find out tomorrow or soon at least. It either works or it don't, hopefully it does though. Any which way, given the compromised state of the sensor, this is only meant to be a temporary fix for a month or three or whatever, until my roommate can afford to order a new part online.
There's nothing more permanent than a temporary solution.