Mystery part

[electric_monk]

Hello,
Just wondering if anyone can tell me what this bit does from an alternator? I think it's called a condenser?

[pandaman]

That is a capacitor, also known in some circles as a condensor. There are a few reasons for having a capacitor on the alternator, depends where it is in the circuit, haven't looked at an alternator recently myself.

[SL/ENUT]

It should be near the coil, not the alternator. With out that your car will start but will run like a pig.

[craigvk]

There is one on your alternator and one on your ignition coil. They basically prevent whine and tick going through the electrical system and used mainly to stop this for your radio. If you take them away, your radio speakers will get too much tick and noise in them.

[Tree cutter]

I agree with zoist it is to prevent radio interfearance some people call them noise suppressors or condensers but they are capacitors.