My voltage gauge bounces between 12 and 16 while idling at startup. As soon as I give it gas, the voltage spikes to the max reading the gauge will read. This started happening after I cleaned the fusible links with a brass wire brush without disconnecting the negative battery cable. A spark shot from the link terminal through the wire brush into the bracket that holds the fusible links. I thought it was the voltage regulator that was fried in the alternator, but after installing a new alternator, the problem persists.
