Nope, I will explain. I'll walk you through it so we can get it figured out. First, you need to check the engine and voltage regulator grounds. The regulator grounds through the screws that hold it down, so just make sure those are tight and clean. The engine ground is a wire that connects the engine to the chassis. It should be clean and tight on both ends. If you think/know both grounds are OK, we can move on.
Ok, good. The regulator has 4 connections on it labeled I, A, S and F. You can see how they oriented at the bottom of this page: http://1bad6t.com/Maverick/repair/engine_repair_02.html We are going to check those terminals to try and figure what is (or is not) happening with your voltage meter. Gimmie a minute to type up the tests you are going to do...
Assuming you know how to use your voltage meter (if you don't, that's fine, I can explain it). First Test: With Key ON and Engine OFF (not running), check the A terminal with your voltage meter. It should read about 12V. Second Test: With Key ON and Engine ON (running), check the S terminal with your voltage meter. It should read above 12V+. Post what you find.
am I just using the red out of the meter and how do I get a reading with it plugged in. I guess it would help if I understood electricity.
Yes, you are going to read what the voltage meter shows. Does it have an LCD screen or a needle? Does it a rotary knob for selecting different measurements or buttons? Electricity is like water. The wires are pipes. Voltage is like water pressure. Current (amperage) is like water flow. You are using your voltmeter to measure the pressure difference at different places. Voltage (pressure) is a difference between two points, always. It is like sticking a pressure gauge into a water pipe. The pressure in the pipe is relative to the pressure outside the pipe (0 pressure). Similarly, the voltage you are going to measure is the difference between the vehicle ground (0V, negative battery terminal) and whatever you are measuring. The voltage (pressure difference) between the battery posts is 12V. Make sense?
It is digital. I guess I am asking what goes where? Do I unplug the harness from the volt reg? Is one side have to be touching a battery terminal?
Leave everything hooked up, we are only going to probe the connections with your voltmeter leads. So, that means you may need to slightly pull the connectors off of the regulator, but leave them hooked up. Understand? You need them to stay connected, but you need a little spot exposed so you can use your voltmeter lead to touch the connection. We need to measure the voltage specifically at that point, withe everything hooked up. Got it?
Turn on your voltmeter and set it to read DC Volts. That will be a picture of a horizontal line with dashed lines under it. Connect the red (positive) lead to the positive battery post. Then connect the black (negative) lead to the negative battery post. Your voltmeter should read about 12V. Let me know when you have done that.
Ok, with the engine OFF, what is the voltage at the alternator output terminal (on the back of the alternator)?
