Engine Warning Light

I guess the topic is too general until I find out what the code is/was.

My wife was driving the GTI 2.0 on the freeway when she noticed the engine warning light starting to flash. On the way home, the light became steady. So I left the car in the garage and made an appointment with the local pug service. Didn't drive it at all until yesterday for a short and slow trip (5km) and back. Light still steady.

However, this morning on the way to service, I noticed the light was no longer on display. I called the mechanic and decided to keep driving as usual and see if it comes back after the weekend.

Now this is the worrying part.. after the call, I drove straight to work. But as I was closing the boot, I saw a piece of metal sticking out of the exhaust pipe/backend. It's stuck on the inner, upper lip of the exhaust. I can't find a camera to show you what I saw.

Anyway, I can't remember how should the exhaust tip look like inside. Should there be a con-ish housing that opens to the lip from inside? or should I just see the wall of the exhaust end from the lips all the way through to the box as I'm seeing now?

Anyway, I'll definitely bring the car to the service as it may be a piece of the backend box... or catalytic converter but the lights isn't on or flashing anymore.

I took some pictures.

This was the debri stuck on the exhaust tip.


And after removing it, the debri looks like this, maybe a piece from the within the catalytic compartment?


I think it fits the theory that a piece of the catalytic convertor got out and got stuck somewhere inhibiting air flow. As a result, the warning light came up. After that piece was somehow pushed out and got caught at the tip, the warning light cleared. Just a theory..... But the logs will confirm it. Not sure if I need a new exhaust part :/

id definitely get the exhaust checked, that is something i would freak out over.