Hi and thanks for admitting me to your forum , I have just purchased (cheaply) a 2001 focus estate ttdi , it drives smoothly and idles steadily at 750rpm but it is a bit of a pig to start first thing takes a good ten seconds continuous cranking before firing , thereafter starts on the button all day . It does seem a bit sluggish on hills too but low revs pulls ok . Any ideas would be greatly appreciated before I go on a wild goose chase of replacing things . Many thanks in advance . Oh the mileage is 170000 so I understand things may be worn out

 

Check the obvious glow plugs etc, but i'd try fitting a rnon-return valve in the line to the fuel pump, as it sounds like the fuel could possibly be running back on it

 

the fact it starts fine once warm would suggest glow plugs, should be cheap enough to replace assuming you can get them out OK