Struggling to start

My son has a 2002 TD5 and has to pump the accelerator to get the engine firing up, with some smoke coming out of the exhaust. First time it happened warning light came up ' water in fuel filter '. Fires up OK after first start up but if left any period of time same problem.
Is it a fuel starvation problem via the fuel filter or fuel injectors?

td5 has electronic throttle controll through a petentiometer... so that "pump up" thing will only put it in purge mode eventually or flood the engine, in case the ignition is one cos with it off it's completely useless... nevet touch the throttle of a Td5 while cranking unless it was out of fuel and got air in the system and then only untill it starts and that's all ... there could be many things for hard starting, elliminate the simple ones first like new fuel filter and air bleed valve(search the forum for that), check the ECU red plug for oil and if there is replace the injector loom... the next step would be new injector seals

Probably worth checking that you can actually hear the pump too - key to ign II and listen at the drivers side rear wheel, should be an obvious hum.

Had one last week wouldn't start fuel filter was blocked. Causing low fuel pressure

had same problem. after advice on here, from Sierrafery, i did the air bleed and non return on the filter housing and then injectors. also cleaned out the harness loom and then cleaned terminals to the starter motor. fires first time.