What sensors are involved in requiring the brake to be pressed to shift out of park? I think it is or has failed, because in order to drive my car, I must shift out of park WITHOUT pressing the brake. If i do, the car cuts out.

Thanks for any info

Sounds like the brake safety switch is broken. It should mechanically stop you from shifting out of park if the brake is not pressed.

Sounds more like you are having idle control / tune-up problems. Why is the car stalling? Sometimes this is a sign of a dirty throttle body, gummed-up IAC valve passage, or bad IAC valve.

As it dies, the power to the dash flickers on and off, like power is being cut to everything.

I ran checked to see if there were any codes in the computer...but it just keeps flashing 12

where is the brake safety switch located?

Oh, you are having electrical problems, not engine problems...

12 means the computer is in diagnostic mode. If it flases no other number, than there are no codes stored.