alternater overcharging?

[mercpu66]

2000 ford ranger. when i first start it sometimes my amp gauge will peg high and my headlights will get real bright and the abs light will come on,this only lasts a few seconds. any ideas.

 

[adsm08]

that does sound like a bit too much coming out the gen., most likely a bad regulator. Take a voltmeter and see what you have at the battery posts at idle, if its more than 13.5V I'd be looking into a new alternator.

 

[Bent Bolt]

that does sound like a bit too much coming out the gen., most likely a bad regulator. Take a voltmeter and see what you have at the battery posts at idle, if its more than 13.5V I'd be looking into a new alternator.

14.5 V is the upper limit.

 

[adsm08]

14.5 V is the upper limit.

Yes, but it you read the whole post I said to check it at idle. 14.5V is the upper limit but should not be seen at idle unless you have a maximum electrical load on the system, all lights, AC, radio turned up to max etc. at idle with only the radio on the max you should see is 13.5v, 14 in extreme cases.