I have a 2003 VW Golf and a few months ago, the same thing happened. The mechanic said it was running on only 2 or 3 cylinders because one a spark plug needed to be replaced. I had a full tune up (spark plugs, wires, filters, etc.) and a month later, it happened again. This time, the car had been sitting for a few days and the weather had been cold, rainy and then warm and cold again. It didn't happen again until today, during a snow storm. I put some dry gas in it and it seems to be fine. The check engine light has been on for quite a while (o2 sensor needs to be replaced), but this shaking/engine light blinking problem has happened at least 1x a month, but only for the last 3 months.
SOURCE: engine stumples in mostly bad or rainy weather
check the throttle position sensor connector known for letting moisture in and causing false reading to be sent to the computer i worked at a dodge dealership for 8 yrs doing driveability
SOURCE: 2003 VW Golf - O2 Sensor?
Honestly it is not very expensive to replace, but it is not extremely important. What it does is measure the oxygen/fuel level coming out of the engine. This tells the computer that the engine is either using the right air/fuel mixture or allows the computer to change the mixture slightly to allow the car to run properly. You could pull the sensor out and clean the terminal as it usually has alot of carbon build up due to its location, but this is normally a temporary fix. I hope this helps you with your problem.
SOURCE: 2003 VW golf o2 sensor?
Yes, it could be something else, other than the converter, such as a faulty o2 sensor. Take your VW to Autozone or Advance auto, and ask them to a do a scan, to see what they come up with ( think it's free).
SOURCE: My 2001 VW Golf will
It is tough to tell without looking at the engine, but I would recommend checking your spark plugs. If you hear a chugging, at least you know that your fuel pump is working. The gas sounds like it is not being ignited properly. Hope this helps!
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This happened to me yesterday... light started blinking and motor weak... but I needed to get somewhere ... light eventually stayed lit and persists... weather had been cold/snowy then unusually warm... lots of water snow melted on car + rain.
Today is cold/ice...light still on when cold-started....will try fuel, oil/fluid change, I like the spark plug idea!
Have you got the codes read yet? That's the next step, it will help you narrow down where the problem is, or at least give you an idea of what could be wrong.
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