Its not that. Its just an ordinary relay.

I will have a look at a parts car when the weather is better.

Thanks MJ, maybe you can also confirm exactly where it is as well?
I'd have a look myself but not knowing which position it's in ...…… :Confused:

I've been having a serious rummage online, found an online copy of ETKA: https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/etka/audi/a8q/257/
Looking at the relay plate and relays: https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/e...8q/257/937700/ it shows just one relay in the picture (representative I presume) but lists loads.
Sadly none are identifiable as being the J207!

But applying a bit of logic to the "anonymous" ones I reckon it could be 443 951 253 AA which is a VAG type 219 relay and looks pretty "standard" (ref MJ).
(Or possibly 141 951 253 B which is a VAG type 53)

When the weather improves I'll go and see if I have one, or more, in a relevant position.

Just a couple of pictures again incase they may help out at all.

These 2 banks of relays are the ones from the passenger foot well, behind the mdf foot plate. Maybe the numbers will help to locate what you are looking for. From what I can find out though none of them seem to have anything to do with starting inhibitor or shift interlock.

Are we even looking in the right place?

Sorry, I think these are better pictures.

Thanks for those, I think that's the right place. Lets see if MJ pops up again soon and can remember which it is.

Just had another look at what I posted. The first image is okay, but when I was scanning through the list of relays on ETKA, the one that 'caught my eye' was the 'gearshift lock' one, and since nothing else 'fitted', I decided that was the correct one, so sorry about that.

OK, I've been and looked at the relays and taken a picture (attached).
There are 3 sets, the lower ones are out of the picture and the upper ones are mostly hidden by a big flap of heavy felt material but just in view.

The top row corresponds to the layout that both Sean and I found, with a row of fuses below the relays.
I think the leftmost one (204, 40A) is the one I'm after. I think the part number is 431 951 253H.

Not sure what the righthand one (373, 40A) is in position 5 or the two narrow green items in 3 and 4. There's another 373 to the right of that in position 6 out of shot.

I didn't pull the 204 as it's socket felt insecure and I though I'd ask for opinions first. Currently the car starts in P and I haven't touched the gear stick.

Sadly I found another problem when gaining access, water under the carpets...
The scuttle is actually dry so this must be the aircon drains again. Another job for the list. :mad:

The insecure socket was easy to pull out on its wires so I did that and removed the relay. Car didn't start.
Put it back and it started fine. +++

Standard 4-pin relay, part number is indeed 431951253H, type 204 40A.

And with the socket pulled out for easier access I can bypass it without too much contortion. I'll probably buy a spare from my local VW dealer anyway, it seems to be a pretty cheap item.

I didn't even realise there was that 3rd row under the noise insulation. Every day is a school day and that's why this forum is invaluable.