I've got a 72 cutlass with the original alternator. I have changed the battery and the voltage regulator twice but the lights brighten when I accelerate. When metered it shows 16 volts.........too much!!!!

 

Welcome aboard

Hang in there. There will be some electrical gurus with ya shortly

 

welcome to the site!

You are right, 16 is way too much! The only things that I know of that can cause that is the regulator or maybe the alternator...
Did the parts shop sell you the right regulator? I have heard of parts being bad out of the box....

Is the wiring from the alt to the reg in good shape? Unplug the connectors and look for burned or damaged contacts or wiring.
Try to avoid driving the car until you get it fixed...

 

You need to check the external voltage regulator. It is mounted on the fire wall.

 

Welcome to CO. X3 on the regulator.

 

X4 on the regulator, no more the 14 volts

 

Welcome.

The (1972) Oldsmobile Chassis Service Manual has charging system problem diagnosis procedures and charts. Internal testing, rebuilding, installation, the whole nine yards. I'm not saying anybody here may not have a solution so keep watching, I'm lost when it comes to to this kind of electronicalogical stuff and head right for the manual.
I could gloss over the procedures but it all has to be done by the book and I'm not taking the fall when everything blows out or the car burns down.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
You could throw parts at it all day and never fix anything, the book is way cheaper in the long run.

 

Replaced the regulator twice. Same problem. Going to put on a new alternator tomorrow. Thanks for the responses. I'll post pictures soon. she is my Baby.

 

sounds like the alternator is doing its job. just that for some reason it is not getting regulated. i would look for a wiring issue between the alternator and the regulator. or maybe someone in the past hooked up something wrong.