What is the thing below the alternator on a 1980s V8?
 

I have been out checking out my newly acquired 85' 380 and I am puzzled as to what something is. It is the thing below the alternator on the passenger side of the engine. It has two wires from it and it supposed to have a belt on it, but the belt is removed. Is this the air pump? At first, I thought it was the A/C compressor, but that appears to be the the lower driverside of the engine.

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like the air pump. The AC compressor is on the left side, below the power steering pump.

Ditto...
 

...air "smog" pump.

The belt is off on mine too because supposedly it started making a huge racket a while back. They cost a small fortune to replace and its not needed to get good emissions numbers.

Thanks for the replies!!

Another question - how in the world do you open the fuel door? Sorry for the ignorance, but I have never owned a Mercedes of this vintage before. I really need to get an owners manual!

Damn it Jim!...
 

I'm a DOCTOR! not a MAGICIAN! (from one of the Star Tek movies - sorry)

Anal MB owners like myself like to use either a white dinner glove (that we put back in a hermetically sealed GladBag type of deal) or disposable surgical type temporary glove :D .

"Normal" people press on the forward edge of the fuel filler door, without such precautions, to make it pop out.

If you are "semi-normal" you surreptitiously wipe the offending finger print(s) off with your choice of removal media when nobody is looking. ( :D )

Please take no offense at/with my humor - I'm still trying to figure out the climate control buttons and radio controls on a couple of mine!

Happy holidays!
Kevin

Crap - I need to update my profile; I now own a '79 450SEL 6.9 too/also

OK. Thanks! I did not know if there was a latch inside or something. I would have never figured it out. :anxious: