No pick up

[Gobi]

I drive a 2004 Golf Gti 1.8T and my engine light came on today.  It would flash go away and then come back on flashing and repeat. My car then jerked and I couldn't get out of third gear with no pick up. I drove to the dealer and am waiting to hear on the diagnostics.  There was unfortunately was a burning smell which I didn't smell until I got out since it was down pouring today. Is it my turbo?  Fuel filter/bad gas....any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

[Addicted to boost]

Flashing CEL = bad coils. What was the smell you're experiencing? Does it smell like unburned fuel coming out the tail pipe? That'll happen if you have bad coils that aren't burning all the fuel injected into your cylinders. My bet is on coil packs but if theres any other information you can give, it would help the diagnosis.

Note that CELs mainly come on if theres some sort of emissions problem. Bad coils would count for this, especially if its a flashing CEL.