Weird alternator issue

[piss&vinegar]

Just thought I would get some input on this. Yesterday morning, Friday, Nov. 30th, I was heading to work and noticed the voltmeter on my capacitor was showing a higher than normal charging voltage. The meter was saying 14.5 V+. It kept fluctuating between 14.5 to close to 15.0 V. I have never seen it get that high but after looking in my automotive book for school, which said sometimes charging voltages can get that high, I felt somewhat better. Well, coming home it got even higher, sometime hitting 15.0+. I removed the stereo system by pulling the fuse and checked with another voltmeter and it was reading the same. I was like 'damn, the voltage regulator again'. Anyway, I change my oil today and drove around and now it will not happen. With stereo connected it would stay between 13.8 to 14.2. Anyone seen anything like this before?
:read:

 

[CobraBob]

I don't have an answer, but I'll move this thread to the top for you. Maybe someone will chime in.

 

[MaximumVelocity]

Intermittent regulator failures are fairly common, most people don't have gauges to see them right before they give out. I've seen batteries on Cobras ballooned out due to overcharging!

 

[SVTkel]

My car stays between 13.7 - 14.2. Not sure why all of a sudden you would be cranking out 15 volts?

 

[Dana]

Probably an intermitent short in one of the diodes in the alternator.
Possibly the regulator is going south also.

Either way, might as well start looking for an alternator before it cooks the battery.

 

[piss&vinegar]

Well, I drove it today and it seemed fine but I am going to get another voltage regulator anyway. I was thinking that one of the diode in the rectifier was probably going bad.