What is this piece?

[GregFrench]

My alternator was whining, and upon further investigation I noticed this piece (circled) with this wire (arrow) not attached to it. (1981 HJ47, 2H Engine)

What is this piece?
What does it do?
Is there a way to fix it? (The wire broke off from the inside so I can't splice it)
Would this piece missing make my alternator whine?
Does anybody have an extra one they would want to sell?
Or do I need a whole new alternator because the damage has already been done?
And does anybody know where I could get an alternator for a 2H?

Thanks

 

[crushers]

looks like a condensor to me... probably get a new one from Toyota for cheap or your local parts store...
remove the belt and check the bearings for movement or stiffness by spinning the alternator by hand...
whinning? take it to an alternator shop and get it checked out...

 

[GregFrench]

What does it do? It just seems to be a live wire running into this thing and stopping. I was expecting it to be connected somewhere else as well. It almost seems as if it is a suped-up ground or something.

 

[Tapage]

The capacitor .. is designed to keep for short times V.