Instrument panel Volt Reg

[al]

Car: 1990 80 2.0 L

Problem: Lost instrument lights

Checked battery – 12.65 V

Checked fuse – OK

Pulled instr. panel

Checked rheostat,  registered 0.0-20.5 ohms  looks good to me.

Checked Voltage regulator, leads 1 – 2(Gnd), 11.75 V, should be battery voltage (12.65 V). I wonder why this reading is low.

Checked VR output , leads 3 –2 (Gnd), 10.00 V should be 9.50 – 10.50 V

I am going to start tracing the wiring.

Any ideas? 

Aloha.
Al