MIL-malfunction indicator lamp (long)

[Feeesh]

Here's the story:
Driving about 80 on the freeway, this light comes on blinking, i exit and i pull into a parking lot, and let the car idle while i get out the manual, and the light stops blinking, and everything goes back to normal.

I continue driving, pick up my friend and go to a party, and when i'm pulling into my parking spot, the car feels like it's about to stall, shaking, sputtering, i can feel vibrations, something definetly feels wrong. I shut the car off and go inside.

An hour or so goes by.

I come out and the car starts up fine, i go to in-n-out, park for a bit, come back out and it still feels fine. Driving home, car feels normal.

wtf was that about?

What the manual says about the MIL:

The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is part of the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD II) system. The light illuminates when the ignition is turned on and will turn off after the engine is started and the idle has stabilized. This indicates that the MIL is working properly. If the light does not turn off after the engine is started, or illuminates while you are driving, a malfunction may exist in the engine system. If the light starts flashing, the catalytic converter could be damaged. Continue driving with reduced power and have the condition immediately corrected. Contact the nearest authorized Audi dealer for assistance. If the light illuminates, the Electronic Speed Limiter can also be out of operation. An improperly closed fuel fillercap may also cause the MIL lamp to illuminate.

The MIL lamp may also illluminate if there is a leak in the on board fuel vapor recovery system. If the light illuminates after a refuelling, stop the vehicle and ensure that the fuel filler cap is properly closed.

I did fill up yesterday, but it didn't illuminate today, so i doubt there's a fault with the fillercap, haha. Any idea? I'm taking it to the dealer tomorrow, but many of you have much more knowledge about engines than i do.

Thanks for reading!

[bunnn]

i had a similar problem with my b7...i was at a party and the next morning i came out to my car..with MAL on (THAT NIGHT WAS VERY COLD -20degrees celcius or so)...i thought it was ok at first from reading the manual ..so i drove on.. there was indeed VERY noticable vibration....i got home..showered ..went back out to eat..and it's been fine ever since...

i'd probably ask about it when i have my RSN-E changed...

but does anyone know whats going on?

[Feeesh]

It was about 50degrees F out tonight, so i dont think it was the weather.

oh, and i dont have the 1.8T, mine's 3.0.

maybe it's the dreaded coilpacks? haha noooooo

[bunnn]

I assumed it was the cold since it never happened before...maybe its the 3.X engines that do this

[A4 - Oh Snap]

just VAG it and see what the code is. 9 times out of 10 its nothing significant. These cars are MIL happy.

[Feeesh]

damn, the dealership is closed, so it's going in tomorrow.

[Craigo]

I had that with my 3.0, it felt like the engine stopped getting gas and was going to stall, and the MIL light flashed for a bit then stopped, right? I actaully think it was some sort of bad mixture in the gas that went through, you should be straight it happened like only two times to me, and my car has been serviced a few times after that, and audi has said nothing to me about any problems.

[Feeesh]

hopefully it was just a little bad mixture of gas.

[Saturnine]

Its most likely your CP's.. I had the same issues that you encountered, and thats what the problem was.. I guess the CP's would work off and on, which would cause the car to work fine one second and then shitty the next..

The cel would come on and go off and even blink sometimes as well..

[Feeesh]

yeah, i haven't gotten a CEL, and i drove the car today and it's fine. dont know what happened, but it's goin to the dealership tmorrow.

[Saturnine]

Mine always went whack when i was WOT..