so i took my pinto for a drive today ran great until i got like 3 miles from my house and the alternator light came on and the amp gauge started to jump 12 to 14 back and forth i made it home thought it might be the voltage regulator so i changed it didn't help it can set at idle and charge at 14 or so but when you go down the road the gauge jumps around and the light comes on as anyone had this problem before I'm thinking i might replace the alternator next but first i wanted to see any cheaper ways it a 71 pinto with the 2.0 a/c 4sp all stock

new and tight just replaced it when i rebuilt the motor last month also went through checking the grounds and wire connections

72pair's makes a good point. While replacing my alternator on my own beloved '71 (1.6 and 4 speed) one of the wires on that little spider cluster that attaches to the alternator broke- just broke. The wires and insulation snapped as if it was just brittle old plastic. That was when I knew panic time! I was able to fix it with sone creative carving and a splice, but one day recently the splice came apart and the Alternator light came on. Again I was able to fix it... but I'm running out of wire.     The funny thing is this keeps happening right before a Pinto event (a car show and Barth's Xmas party respectively).