No more than 12.5 charging-Has to be VR problem?

That seems wrong unless you are doing the test with car off, your other prior tests suggest a few volts. Are you measuring running, above idle speed where you were measuring 16 to 18V?

Another good test is battery - to regulator case, and again at engine ground to see if there are drops there.


Yes....running above idle gave me the 16 to 18 V