help please..gti 1.8t

[04vwgti]

So I'm driving home from work, stopped at a light, and my rpms start dropping a little bit, not too much, the light turns green and all sudden my check engine light starts flashing, and my car has absolutley no go, it accelerated ever so slowly and if I tried to give it more gas it wouldnt want to go it would sound like it wanted to stall.

I pulled over, shut her down and popped the hood..nothing seemed wrong, but it was pitch black outside.. but since I was only 6 blocks from home I figured I'd take a chance and drive the rest of the way home, the check engine light flashed all the way home and the car still had barely anything for power, when I got home I popped the hood and it smelt like...burnt something?..

Any ideas? please help.. I'm getting frustrated with this car..
thanks..

Its a 2004 GTI 1.8t, only 70,000 kms. thanks.

[TTTurbo1.8T]

Could be a clogged catalytic converter if it smelled like rotten eggs. If not then I'm putting money on a bad ignition coil.

[04vwgti]

Yeah I'm thinking coil.. after doing some reading..
So if its a bad ignition coil can I do just the one or should I do all 4..
And do you have any idea how much this will cost?
Is it possible for me to do this on my own?
And one more question, I heard VW was re-calling coil packs on 1.8t's, would my 2004 gti qualify for this?

Sorry for all the questions, Thanks!

[slappy]

As far as the recall, you have to call your stealership to have them check the recalls you fall under. Yes, you can change the coil packs yourself as long as your mechanically inclined. I would change all the packs at the same time. You can just change one but then you have to figure out which one is bad. It could possibly be 2 that are bad. Just change all at the same time. Cost? not sure. I don't have a 1.8t but you can search the parts sites to get prices.

[Northernsoul79]

Yea it seems like your ignition coils are gone. I suggest changing all of them. They are easy to install and pretty cheap. I've had 2 go on me in the past year.

[tbing]

Get the code scanned, it'll come up with a P300 and P301-304 depending on which coilpack is bad. ~$35 each give or take where you get them. Change all four, and keep the ones that didn't go bad in the trunk in case it happens again while you're out so you can change them.

As for changing them, it requires about 20 minutes to change all 4.

Take off the engine cover, and you'll see 4 black plugs. 2 of which are covered by the vac res. move the vac for the time being, and take the clips out of the back, then just wiggle and pull them up. Put in the new one, plug them back in and put the vac back on.

[fubardub]

sounds like a coil pack went. easiest thing to do is replace them all. but if your in a bind and dont have access to a scanner you can do this. (im not responsible if you damage your car) i personally have done this when i blow a coil pack out. remove engine cover and locate coils, with the car running all rough and stuff. start from left to right and unplug the first coil. just unplug the plug. dont pull the coil out it will arc if it is still alive. if there is a change in the way the engine sounds(gets worse) then that coil is fine. plug it back in and move to the next one. repeat until you find the one that does not change the way the engine is running. it will be the bad one. i always blow out the one under the vacuum resi. so i relocated it.
before

after

[04vwgti]

went and grabbed 4 coils this morning from vw, only $25 a piece, changed them and problem solved. Thanks guys!

and the re-call thing.. they said they are going by vin#'s and they aren't at my vin yet, but I am likely to get reimbursed in the next 6-12 months.

Again thanks alot guys!