HELP! 1.8t sputtering problems...CEL is flashing

[.Mad Hatter.]

So today after work I got in the car, went to drive home and noticed my car sounded funny...then it started sputtering and my idle was all over the place. 10 seconds later my CEL is flashing like crazy and my RPMs are rising but my speed is not.

I pull over, check things over, no visible issues, continue to baby it home. The CEL is no longer flashing but is still on. After about 3 miles(once the car warms up) the issue is no longer there...I figure ok, minor issue. Once parked at home I get in to go to the gym...what do you know, flashing CEL again with throttle and boost.

2 things;

Yesterday I installed a concert radio which was locked, the car was left in the ON position for about an hour, I let it run, the battery is fine.

Also, I washed my engine bay yesterday, no power washer, just the garden hose and some soap. Nothing was sprayed directly on for an extended period of time or with any force. The car was driven last night, to work today, and then home and back at lunch with no issues...so roughly 20 miles total before the issue presented itself.

HELP!

[big_greasy_taco]

can you check what codes were thrown?

[Ewok_Fetus]

What year? Sounds like you might have either a massive leak or a coil pack that crapped out...

[.Mad Hatter.]

97 so AEB.

i was also thinking coil pack maybe. could be a leak somewhere but i have no idea where.

i dont have access to a VAG-COM right now, I will likely have to take the car in/scan it.

[benaudia4]

i think its a coil pack

[.Mad Hatter.]

how do i know which one? will a scan reveal which cylinder is having issues, or should i just replace them all?

[Stampy]

I agree that is sounds like a coilpack. It would just be funky that the problem would go away, and then come back. Usually when a coilpack goes, it goes.

[.Mad Hatter.]

thats whats throwing me off...like i said once the car was warmed up it was fine.

[Matt@JHM]

Get the codes pulled. It will tell you which cylinder(s) are misfiring.