I would do a search but I don't know what it is and what it does but I have a shaft with a ball clip that clips onto a ball but the plastic part is worn and comes loose. I just want to know what it is and how it works and what it effects if not hooked in.



Position of ball arm thingy



A closer shot.



My assistant mechanic was not much help either. Kept saying it was a fuse or something

 

Maybe a hairball issues?

 

Maybe

 

That thing is a vacuum operated valve inside the manifold that helps throttle response at different RPM's I believe, seems to be called a vacuum cell. Hopefully it is the little arm that is the issue, not the part on the intake as that doesn't appear to be separate.

This diagram may help http://mbfans.me/EN/mercedes/c/1/a/M...anifold/sg/030

 

It switches the intake runners from long to short
which helps maximize engine torque/power throughout the rpm range

 

Ok so it has a bit of an effect on performance and fuel consumption then.

 

Thanks for this. It will come in handy with part numbers.

 

Update: Went for a drive yesterday and CEL came on. Checked the faults on my Torque app:



Cleared the fault codes and CEL stayed on then re tested for faults and same codes popped up. Went home, put a cable tie on the shaft to secure it to the ball, reset the faults and CEL went off. Retested afterwards and no fault codes. Went for a drive today and retested again because CEL does not always come on if there's faults I have noticed in the past with other cars as well but no faults found.