Smoke in the Cab when Starting

Hi All,
Quick question.
Landy been Standing for 10 days (Has been raining). Started him up on the second time. Drove for 20 mins with no Problems.
Now starter turning but not getting enough juice to turn the engine as well as a whisp of White smoke coming into the cab through the gear stick. Gearbox tunnel is also hot to the touch.
Battery is new, starter is a newly commissioned one.

Hoping you can solve this dilema.

I think there's an exhaust joint by the gearbox, if that's blowing then it will cause the tunnel to heat up and the smoke in the cab.
I can't understand the starting problem, are you saying it has a new battery but the cracking speed is very low and doesn't want to start it?
Also petrol or diesel?
What CCA is the battery and the ah ? For example I think mine is 900A but that's more than enough and 100 or 110 ah, however if it's a normal car battery at say a 50ah one that will fit a clio, then it's not big enough!!! Especially if it is diesel, as they take more power to start

Check the cable going to starter motor for any nicks in the insulation. Before rebuild, with the vibration in the engine bay about 3 inches of insulation had been stripped, it lead to very slow turning over of the engine

ALso check exhaust/ manifold for smoke, does it smell of exhaust fumes or burning?

Slow crank and smoke is notoriously a bad ground cable in my experience. Check and clean the grounds - something is warming up and not happy I suspect.

ajr

Thank you for the replies.
Mines a Petrol.
Battery had no Problems turning the starter Motor with real power. Maybe a prob with the alternator?
Smoke smells of burning, in particular electrical. Will duly check the manifold and exhaust System for leaks etc.
Will renew cable. Will it be an idea to Bypass the Solenoid and connect battery straight to the starter?

Apologies for so many questions- thin on experience but thick with enthusiasm.

my guess is the cable running to the started motor is finding ground at the back of the engine, heating up old oil which is coming through gear stick..
Get a multimeter and check the starter motor side of the starter solenoid to ground...shouldn't get a low reading or zero.

Incredible! Thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction. Loose earth was the culprit and along with that arching and heating up a bit of the old oil.
Great stuff and thanks again for your help.

I could get through a packet of 20 waiting for my old diesel to start!

Also, forgot to mention, the screws that connect the battery clamp to the cable had worked loose on mine causing the same symptoms