My 2001 xterra is acting up, I am not mechanically inclined and broke so I can't afford taking it to a shop, so every morning it blows grey/blue smoke from the exhaust pipe, just recently when turning on, in reverse it stalls and shuts off, same thing with drive...I was hoping to sell it soon, it does have 305,000 miles....any suggestions?

blue smoke means your burning oil! Might need an engine overhaul or replacement! If its burning alot of oil it will foul the spark plugs causing them not to fire! At 300k+ miles its probably time for a new car.

Does it blow smoke just on start up, or does it keep smoking all the time? That difference can be big as to the severity of the problem.

When it shuts down, does it restart and run? If it runs, does it run okay, or does it lack power?

At your mileage it could be a lot of things, including shot rings like mentioned above.

At 305k......that's all? I'd cross my fingers, smile and go along.
Seriously, smoking at start-up with that many miles isn't really a huge deal IMO, it's just tired. Keep doing whatever you have been doing and consider yourself lucky.

hmm... Whens the last time you told ur X u loved her? Or perhaps give her a big kiss - then she'll come around... lol

Seriously though, theres always youtube, and a FSM download below, maybe it could help????

www.nicoclub.com/FSM/xterra/

Bone for tuna

Check the timing belt