How to Test a Marine Diesel Starter
If you're having trouble starting your marine diesel engine, it may be the starter. Testing your starter is a relatively simple process that can be done with a few tools.
First, make sure the battery is fully charged. A weak battery will not provide enough power to properly test the starter.
Next, disconnect the negative battery cable. This will prevent the starter from accidentally engaging while you're testing it.
Then, remove the starter from the engine. This will usually require removing a few bolts. Consult your engine's manual for specific instructions.
Once the starter is removed, you can test it with a multimeter. Set the multimeter to the Ohms setting and place the probes on the starter's terminals. If the reading is within the normal range, the starter is fine.
If the starter is bad, you'll need to replace it. Fortunately, starters are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. You can usually find them at your local auto parts store.