"Jack Goff" wrote in message
m...
1999 Johnson 150 carb outboard. Put in a new battery last summer.
Voltmeter normally shows 14-16 volts and has since new. Couple weeks ago
I
went for a short run (it stays in the water year-round), and I noticed the
voltmeter was showing nearly 18 volts.






The '99 V6 small-block has a pretty reliable voltage regulator design. It
is pretty rare that they fail, but usually it is from corroded connections,
wing-nuts on the battery, or hooking up the cablese or a battery charger
backwards. Be sure the connections are clean and that there are lockwashers
and stainless hex nuts on the terminals.

Check your voltmeter accuracy first. With the key ON and motor not running,
make sure it reads about 12 volts and not 14 or 16 meaning the meter is out
of calibration. Also you can put an accurate digital meter directly on the
battery terminals and run the motor, comparing both the dash meter and the
digital meter readings.

If the regulator is indeed faulty, it is around $200 and easily installed.

Bill Grannis
service manager