[s-cars] Alternator overcharging?

[James Murray (QA/EMC)]

Has anyone experienced having the alternator overcharge the battery? I think my voltage regulator is shot, anyone know how to check this to be sure?

I found my Battery was dead, when tested the battery voltage without the car running I got 16.6V and with the car running it went as high as 18V !!!??? I thought my meter was off but I tested it against my battery charger and it gave me 12V as expected. So my only conclusion is the voltage regulator is toast and the alternator is overcharging the battery thus boiling off the acid... I checked the fluid level and sure enough it was low, I filled it up charged the battery and the car is running again... but I don't know for how long... 

So is it easy to replace the voltage regulator and if so how do you go about it? anyone got a part number for this?

/Jamu.