i know a poor battery will not start a car verry well, but would a battery that is going dud still allow the car to crank and crank and crank with the occaiional backfire when cold.... see other post...https://passionford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=182567 it definately does seem worse the colder the weather is. if its been run up the motorway and you come to start it a few hours later, its 100% fine, but stood out in -2 dgc overnight and it does sound a bit slow ont he starter... the escos volt meter shows 13.5 it idel when its running, but when you switch on forst thing, the fuel pump runs, the abs pumps up and the idle valve clicks, this lot holds the needle at about 10 volts (indicated) what should it pull down to when you first ignition on,, beofre you start cranking....? i'll put a meter on the actual battery 2morrow mornign and see what its sat at ..... its a halfords HCB097, calciyummy one (albeit 3 years old) shal i treat it to a new motorcraft silver jobbie?