Hey Scotty, someone hit my 2004 subaru forester xt on the back passenger side, the damage didn't seem too bad so when it got totaled I was so sad:( I ended buying it back because when I called the shop who evaluated it, they said it needed a right rear strut and trailing arm, easy fix. Fast forward the car is towed back to me and now it won't start. It cranks, really sounds like it wants to buy won't. I don't get why when the engine was 100% fine before, I drove it home after the accident. If I could some how attach a video of me trying to start it would that be helpful? Oh, it's an auto trans and the odometer reads 280,000 but it had an engine swap with a 50,000 mile motor, so I'd say 80,000 miles are on it.
It's most likely either an ignition issue: check for spark
Or it's fuel: try spraying starting fluid into it.
If I could some how attach a video of me trying to start it would that be helpful?
Sure. You could upload it to Youtube and post a link here.
First inspect the car, maybe it's something obvious.
Are all the hoses and electronics connectors connected? Is the air filter in decent condition? do the ground wires look good? (I'd check that the bodyshop didn't paint underneath them) can you spot something that's obviously wrong?
Is the battery still good? you probably will need to jump-start it after you tried to start it a few times.
After that,
I'd check communication with the ECM, connect a scanner and see if you read live data.
(If there's no comm then it's an electronics issue and you should see an electrician)
Try spraying starting fluid into the hose that goes out of the filter box.
If the car starts and then dies, than something is wrong with the fuel system
(I know that on Euro Ford products it's common for the fuel pump to go into "crash" mode not immediately but after a few cycles)
If it doesn't help, It's almost definitely something to do with the ignition system.
I'd recommend going to an actual good qualified mechanic to work on the ignition system because it can be quite complicated. Usually it's things like cam/crank sensors that would cause a crank-no-start.
This might help:
3 components of ignition
1 air
2 fuel
3 spark
1 If it was left outside could be something blocking the intake
2 could be old gas, bad fuel pump or broken fuel line/no fuel, clogged filter
3 no spark might be bad coil
you didnt mention how long it was at the mechanic, so my guess is fuel related
clarified "ignition"=combustion