"nom=de=plume" wrote in message
...
I read the wiki on diesels, and I think I read that if a diesel is running,
then it doesn't need a spark (e.g., battery energy) to keep running. If
that's the case, then it seems like you should be able to start a diesel by
hand, assuming you have the muscle or leverage. So, in the former case,
even if your battery died - perhaps got wet and shorted out - then the
engine would keep running. In the latter situation if the battery was
already dead, you might be able to crank it to start it.

--
Nom=de=Plume


In the old days you could do just that. Any modern diesel has electronic
controls.