My lights seemed to be brighter than normal...well they seemed to be on crack...

I looked at my gauge and it was pegged as far past 18 as it could go...

Turned on the heater, my brights and got it down to 16.5 volts...

Odd thing is...at idle it stays at 13.5 or so...once I get up to 40mph it pegs. And at idle my lights are very very dim

I know the regulator is built in...the only light I had was my cellphone so I beat on it with a screw driver..no good

stopped at the gas station and got some water and checked battery terminals...fine

Had no choice but to drive 63 miles....

Here is what I'm thinking

My car has ALWAYS dimmed the lights when I let off the gas too fast, and almost dies sometimes...lights are always dim...and it seem my accel fuel injectio (that requires 11.7 volts) seems to stutter when this happens.

I'm not sure what to do here, I know alternator or battery gotta go but which one...

Honestly wiring isn't my strongest field...is it safe to even drive?

 

Ok. It's either your battery or your voltage regular in your alternator. Does your engine crank slowly when you start your car in the morning? If it does, then your battery is probably toast, or at least now it is because it has been being over charged for a while and that will kill a battery. Not to mention boil all the water out of a maintenance-required battery.

Also, try checking your engine and chassis grounds. You might also want to bring your car down to an auto parts store so you can have them test your alternator for you.

 

Alternator.

Get your face close to the back of the ALT.

If it smells "burnt", then you need to replace it.

That's exactly what mine did a few months ago. Smelled like a house fire. Replaced the ALT, and it runs fine and stays under 16 volts.

Jim.