On Fri, 19 Nov 2004, exxos wrote:

> I had a problem with one of my cars in the past with the alternator not
> charging, what this turned out to be was the ground pin on the regulator
> was going via a lamp on the dashboard, thus giveing a slight volt raise
> on the ground so you got maybe 13V from the 12V regulator, though it
> took me a long time to work out why my battery wouldn't charge, turns
> out the bulb went on the dashboard, no ground on the regulator,
> alternator didn't charge the battery, thus car wouldn't start....

Fun story, but not applicable to the original poster's '91 Acclaim -- not
even a little bit. Also, "12v" automotive voltage regulators have set
points of between 13.8 and 15.1 volts. A regulator with a set point of 12v
would not charge the battery.