Strange little item on Back of alternator?
 

We are swapping out the failed alternator on our 83, and the old alternator is has the normal voltage regulator, and the socket for the plug from the car, but it also has this strange little flat black box with a wire coming out of it that plugs into an additional terminal on the back of the alternator. We are wondering what this is/if we need it on the new one, as the new one simply has the regulator and has an empty pin socket where the little box plugs in on the old one. What is this little thing? We can't find a replacement item for it anywhere.....so do we even need it or is it important? :confused: :confused:

its a capacitor. You can move it over to the new alternator ;)

Ok thanks! Why did the new alternator not come with one? Also I did not see them listed in the parts area for the alternator....so does it fail/how do you replace it if it fails?? Just wondering, thanks! We'll move it right on over.

noise condenser
 

the part is actually a noise condenser. this is the mercedes part number
001-156-69-01

Can't answer your failure questions. But I moved mine from my old alt. Don't know if it was mentioned but it serves as a noise supressor.

Condensor and Capacitor are both names of the same animal....