Thanks for replying. When my 'friend' plugged the battery in there was apparently a lot of brown smoke that came out from under the block, I've looked but can't find anything under there that looks electronic/electrical there, but obviously something fried. When shifting I need to 'manually' push the lever back of the shifter to get the car in gear, is that also electronic? Looking in my Chiltons I don't see much to go by for this.
Can I rebuild the master cylinder, or get another one?

Thanks again.