I'm trying to help someone work on a 1990 D250 Cummins 4x4. There is a problem with the charging system that when you start the truck the wire from the altanator to the positive battery starts to overheat.(also battery will discharge when just sitting). We have put in a new altanator, voltage regulator, and new battery. I believe the wires going to the ignition have possibly shorted(person claims steering columb smoked).

Would like to know if i can cut the wires to the steering columb and splice into another 12v source controlled by the key on to see if it will stop the overload?

You can refer to my earlier post.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=67330

Any help would be greatly apreciated.

 

Headlight switch and ignition switch are both prone to problems. ALso clean all the connections you can find under the hood. Some even add an extra ground between the engine and chassis for insurance.

 

Sounds like you've found your problum [ steering colum ] dig in there and fix if you start cutting wires you adding future potencial problums and more work, every connector adds resistance, I remember reading about ing. sw. issues but I do not remember what yr. or model , so I would go into the colum.