2003 Polaris MSX 140 Personal Watercraft Service Manual, Page 180Get this manual
Electrical Systems Starter MotorTroubleshooting
Condition: Starter fails to turn motor or motor turns slowlyCAUTION: Make sure that engine crankshaft is free to turn before proceedingWith the tester on VDC, place the tester black lead on the battery negative (-) terminal and the tester red lead on the battery positive (+) terminalReading should be 12.4 or greaterIs it? No! Yes# Disconnect the red engagement coil wire from the starter solenoidConnect the black tester wire to an appropriate ground and the red lead to the red harness wire at the solenoidPush the start buttonThe meter should read battery voltageDoes it? No! Yes# Reconnect the solenoidConnect the tester black lead to the battery positive terminal and the red tester lead to the solenoid end of the battery-to-solenoid cablePush the start buttonThe reading must be less than .1v DCIs it? No! Yes# Connect the black tester lead to the solenoid end of the battery-to-solenoid cable and the red tester lead to the solenoid end of the solenoid-to-starter cablePush the start buttonThe reading must be less than .1v DCIs it? No! Yes# Connect the black tester lead to the solenoid end of the solenoid-to-starter cable and the red tester lead to the starter end of the same cablePush the start buttonThe reading must be less than .1v DCIs it? No! Yes# Connect the black tester lead to the starter frameConnect the red tester lead to the battery negative terminalPush the start buttonReading should be less than .1v DCIs it? No! Yes# If all these tests indicate good condition, yet the starter still fails to turn, or turns slowly, the starter must be removed for static testing and inspectionRemove battery, test andor serviceInstall fully charged shop battery to continue the test(Continue on with left column