I have recently gotten a an 81 4x4 which has had some issues. first it ran really rich, so I replaced the carb and sparkplugs which fixed that. Then we couldn't get it to run quite right wouldn't idle then would seem to run fine and then it would have a miss in it all the sudden then clear itself up again. Well voltage meter was reading 17 volts so we talked with a few people and were told to replace the external regulator, so we did and there was no difference. Then I replaced the battery, no difference, then I replaced the alternator no difference but I found in the paper work that there is a 6 wire and a 5 wire alternator which I needed the 5 wire and had the 6 on it. Now I don't know if it was over charging because of it being the wrong alternator which may have burnt the regulator up again, because the new 5 wire alternator isn't charging at all. Is there a way to test the alternator separate from the regulator or any other suggestions?

 

take the alternator to a parts store they can bench test.

 

Voltage meter in the truck reading 17 volts or an actual volt meter? If it is in the truck, it is normal, my wife's 4runner has a voltage meter in the truck that reads 17 volts when running but with a DMM on the battery it only reads around 14.8 volts.

 

my truck ran the same with 5 or 6 wire alternator. the voltmeter inside my truck reads a bit over 12 most of the time as well. when i first got my truck it was having similar issues, ended up being a bad distributer.