Dellman,
Great work and great answers. The regulator on a SI alternator is dinky, internal and solid state. It couldn't make noise if it had to. There should be no black regulator on the firewall.
Over charging a battery can ruin it, but you should see and smell it before it's gone. The top would be covered with moisture (acid) and the battery would emit a sulphur smell.
Your DA plug should be marked #1 and #2...not R & F, and it should be located on the circumference, not on the back.
The static reading of 12.5 is good, but the 17 volts is bad. The only thing that regulates this is the....well, it's the voltage regulator.
I'm out of ideas other than having a real life auto-electric shop have a look at the alternator.
If you have a SI alternator, you should have NO regulator on the firewall, as least not one that is hooked up anyway.
Stuart
