Hi, I was involved in a front end collision ...

Hi I'm Kevin, I'll try to help. Are you saying that the engine will not turn at all when you turn the key to start it? I assume this is why you tried to jump it with the other car. The shifter becomes movable from Park when the key is on and the brake pedal is applied. This actuates a relay that unlocks the shifter handle. So if I understand you correctly, you have an engine that will not crank (like when the battery is dead) and the shifter will not unlock from Park. But yet you see some lights come on in the car? Did you attempt to jump the battery to see if it will crank? The clicking from the glove compartment is the main relay and this clicking is normal although you don't usually hear it over the sound of the cranking engine. Also, do the brake lights work?

Yes, the engine will not turn over. I put the key in the ON position and pressed the brake but I couldn't shift. The dome light would come on when I got in the car and all the indicator lights would flash when I turned the key trying to start it. I don't think the brake lights worked but I'm not positive. I parked it in town and got a ride. No, I didn't try to jump the car because I couldn't put the car in neutral to move it.

When you try to jump it which is what you need to do next, the shifter issue might resolve itself. If the battery is run down enough, there will not be enough voltage to allow the shift interlock (that is what it is called) to function. I suspect that it will crank over and start up when you jump it. If it does not there are a few things that will get checked next. If it does start with a jump, verify that the shifter moves normal. Then you need to check the alternator to see if it is working ok. You need to find out why the battery went dead.

What are some of the other things I can check if it doesn't jump right away?

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