When I was working around the starter motor for something else, I noticed that the main cable from the alternator to the starter motor (which then feeds the battery) had worn through on the back of the starter motor solenoid. This was slightly unnerving as it's a permanent live cable and the loom conduit stopped short of the final connector.
I assumed that there would probably see some extra resistance in the cable and a potential voltage drop, which wouldn't help the battery charging. The cable should be replaced but because it was integral with the loom, it would have taken a lot of re-wiring work. I decided to run an extra cable to help with the flow of electricity and protect the existing wire with some conduit.
I bought some positive battery cable online, as well as crimped ends and a crimper. The shortest route from the starter to the alternator is on the left side of the engine, but the factory route doesn't go this way as it would have to pass the exhaust. Therefore I ran the cable on the original route around the back of the engine, then the right hand side, under the thermostat housing to the alternator, cable tying it into place - particularly on the starter motor as the original cable should have been to stop it vibrating and wearing out.
