Struggling to start - Black smoke

[Phat Tony]

Hi, I have had my 05 Leon FR 1.9 TDI (150) for about 5 months now, the problem has happened twice now in the last 2 weeks.

First time I started the car from cold drove a few yards stopped for an hour or so then when I tried to start it again it struggled to start but fired up on the 3rd try and a flume of black smoke came out from the exhaust, its started and driven fine up until now but yesterday I started it from cold pulled the car forward of my drive to wash it and then it wasn't until this morning when i went to try and start it and it would start, again on the about the 3rd try it fired up but with a load of black smoke.

For both times when trying to start it it didnt seem to turn over properly.....
I would appriciate if anyone has any ideas on what the problem may be?

cheers

 

[hyphon12]

Not too sure about the difficult starting but the black smoke could just be the excess fuel from cranking in the cylinders burning off?

I'm guessing the glow plugs are ok? i.e. light going out in a decent amount of time?

 

[Phat Tony]

yeah glow plugs are ok I think - light goes out after a couple of seconds...