Date: July 1st 2009

(Apparently my first couple of tries at this reply didn't make it anywhere
as I wasn't using plain text....sorry!!)

The battery cables were checked out extensively this past winter when my
starter went intermittent on me. So I don't think they are the culprit.
And bonus this morning: All his testing yesterday was with the idiot lights
off, but when I went to pick up the car this morning, the trio of idiot
lights where back on at half brightness, so my mechanic again did a couple
of things which reconfirmed In his mind that it was indeed the voltage
regulator causing the grief. It made sense to me as he explained it, but
I'm not fluent enough in automotive knowledge to adequately explain it
except to say that the wiring diagram shows that the alternator, brake, and
radiator fluid sensor all get a direct connection from the alternator and
not the battery (on the plus side..). So when the alternator screws up,
that would explain this trio of lights without having to resort to an
esoteric short somewhere in the wiring harness. If I recall correctly,
the mechanic increased the resistance against the alternator which caused
the voltage regulator to click back on the way it should; and viola! The
idiot lights are temporarily extinguished.

I did clean off the batter terminals, but will take the time to clean off
the other ends of the cables as well.just in case!

We'll see if the other shop will do the right thing as far as the warranty
goes. I think they will, since they are the ones who recommended I go see
the "electrical expert guy". Pete: I will mention to the mechanic your
experience; hope it helps them. Thanks!
Paul K