Push Starter Button Not Enabling The Starter Motor To Engage. Advice Please

[Lord Hellcat]

Can you shut the car off via the button after doing this?

I took it as referring to the park sense system which is unrelated to the trans. There's also the "Transmission not in park" message that would mean what you're saying. That message would come up when trying to start the car if it wasn't in park or the park gear release lever was pulled up.

yes it is an A8 and the car does know that it is in park. The button works as you would expect save churning the starter motor.

 

[Lord Hellcat]

@Lord Hellcat is your PCM flashed to an aftermarket tune? If so, I am sure you have tried, but re-flash it??

yes we also re-flashed the tune as well just in case

 

[Lord Hellcat]

So this would be the fuse to pull to prevent theft when parked?

yes, that would work really well unless someone knew what they were looking for.
There are 7 relays in the fuse board that are all the same so they could take one out of another slot and use it but they would have to be very clued up