System Saver IIgs -- ID of burned part?

[a_specto@alcor.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

    I just opened up my Kensington System Saver IIgs to have a look
inside (I've been wanting to replace its noisy fan for years) and just
found something I wasn't expecting. The orange disc-like part at
location 'V1' (there's also one at V2 and V3) split open and the
plastic cover above it is badly scorched and burned. It looks to be
some sort of large capacitor, resistor or regulator--I'm not sure,
only that I've seen these on other electronics only much, much 
smaller in size. It has two points that solder to the board, probably
a postive and negative contact.

    The fan, LEDs and power-outlets seem to be working just fine, so
I'm wondering what this bit of electronics does and how safe is it to
continue running with it blown. Is it a fire hazard? I have absolutely
_no_ idea when it blew, it could have been last week or it could 
have been 10 years ago. 

    Incidentally, can I use an ordinary 12v DC fan (say from a AT/XT
powersupply) if/when I get around to opening it up again? The 
existing fan is huge, probably about the size of a refrigerator fan!

Mitchell Spector
a_specto@alcor.concordia.ca