Volkswagen: 2004 Jetta wagon -64,000 miles, malfunction indicator light, gas additives

Question
The malfunction indicator light is blinking while driving and there is reduced power especially when accelerating. The book says the catalytic converter could be damaged. Could the cat converter be removed completely? It probably would fail the next emission test 'tho huh? Is this what's wrong and if so, how much to fix it?
Thank-you,
Steven

Answer
Steven,
  The catalytic converter will likely last the life of the car unless there were contributing factors to make it fail early:
- Use of the wrong type of gas(leaded vs. unleaded.)
- Over use of gas additives(octane boosters.)
- Badly tuned car, such as with fouled plugs causing unburned fuel to enter the cat and combust, which then overheats.
- Physical damage, by bottoming out on an object.

Before you go ripping parts off the car, I suggest you simply get an OBD-II scan at a shop; there is a 99% chance it will tell you specifically what is actually causing the "Malfunction Indicator Light" (Check Engine.)  Sure the service may cost you a fee, but you'll possibly save yourself an impending mechanical disaster.  If you wish to DIY, you buy a cheap scanner yourself on eBay, then look up codes on http://www.obd-codes.com/
- Rick