so today when I got off work I turned on my car and sat in it for like 3 mins, everything was ok...the car was idling a little under 1rpm (its a manual,96 2.8 quattro) then it went up alittle and down and up and down, now it has happend before and it just evened its self out eventually, however this time it turned off, so i turn it back on and it was then idling very low and turned off again so i drove it home but on the way home ( a 3.5 mile drive) it turned off like 4 times as i was going and i had to turn it on everytime i tried to keep it in higher RPMS while driving but it would still shut off sometimes. Now i took observations and the dashboard lights werent flickering, and the gauge were is measures the battery was normal (inbeetween 12V and 16V) nor was i losing power with the peddle, the temperature gauge was right in the middle like it always is, and the oil temp was normal.

Now I was thinking the alternator is giving out?? but if thats true why didnt any of the lights go out or anything like that??
I am going to take it to the EURO shop thats like 1/2 a mile from home and see what they say but, what do you all think??

 

it could be a few things alternator is a good place to start (which side of voltage is it giving out) ie: below 12V or above 15 V?? if below or above any of these it the brushes in the alternator if its stable around 14 V then its something else like a vacuum pipe or idle control valve

 

here ya go click

 

Sounds like a vacuum leak to me. If it was the alternator, the car wouldn't restart.

Have the car scanned for codes and report back

 

K ill check it out tomorrow and report code....

 

If not a vacuum leak, it could be the MAF.