you can probably tell i'm a bondo brain(bodyman) not an eletrician.i don't know a whole lot about electrical
.it makes sense that increased resistance would only show itself as voltage drop when there is more electricity flowing than at idle(at least i think thats what you are saying).to be more specific my truck registers only battery voltage at idle(12.5) and if i rev it 200-300rpm's above idle it goes up to where it always used to sit at idle.i should use a load tester while checking for drop first but i can't help wondering if the wire/s going to the regulator are corroded and make it lazy or the new regulator is bad.the last napa alt i got developed a big crack in the resin the regulator electronics are potted in and had similar symtoms that got worse until it quit and i had to put a 20 year old motorcraft regulator in it until i warrantied the alt. and got a new one and soldiered it in.the mechanics i work with(separate business same building) have had the napa alternators do turn on a little late on a few rigs also.what would your plan of attack be?diden't you say what the procedure for checking the regulator is,and could you elaborate for a paint huffin' fool like me?
maybe i should try swapping regulators?(i know-damn parts swappin')
