Thanks for the offer of the starters but there is a brand new one in it.

Its an 06 forester xt and it doesnt have the bracket your talking about (i know the one your talking about as i have a 99 and a 00 wrx)

The earth/negative bolts to a terminal next to the positive and a small plug also that goes to the body of the starter

I would have assumed jumping it form my 4x4 while running that there would have been ample cranking apms (putting out 14v) but ive been wrong before and will happily admit ill be wrong again

Thanks mike