# Nissan Xterra won't start after being on jack stands **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, xterra\ **Created:** [October 1, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-xterra-wont-start-after-being-on-jack-stands/68331 "2011-10-01T05:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dolby51ex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@Dolby51ex](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dolby51ex)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-xterra-wont-start-after-being-on-jack-stands/68331/1 "2011-10-01T05:32:22Z")
Nissan Xterra. I changed the starter after I saw a puff of smoke come off it. After changing starter, I reconnected battery and tried to start. Nothing lighting up on dash. Steering is unlocked. So I thought that the car is in “tow” mode. So I lower it and steering is still unlocked and still nothing lighting up on dash. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Mechaniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Mechaniker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mechaniker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-xterra-wont-start-after-being-on-jack-stands/68331/2 "2011-10-01T06:30:53Z")
" I changed the starter after I saw a puff of smoke come off it." * * * What was the color of the smoke? ---
**Author:** ![Dolby51ex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@Dolby51ex](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dolby51ex)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-xterra-wont-start-after-being-on-jack-stands/68331/3 "2011-10-01T07:09:50Z")
It was white. Almost like cigarette smoke. I found my problem. The neg battery cable had some corrosion on it that I missed. I cleaned and boom it works. Thanks for the help.