Hi all
I have a Punto mk2 '51' plate and a couple of weeks ago the engine management light came on. I decided to leave it as the MOT was due last week and they could sort it out. It failed on Emissions but after a reset the codes disappeared and it went through as a pass.
The light is still on, and it seems to drive ok but its drinking petrol really badly. Also from time to time as I go from 1st to 2nd gear it doesn't have that power as I put my foot down.
I had a new ECU sometime at the start of the year and just a few months ago had new coil packs as they had gone.
I've been thinking to myself it could just need a service, or spark plugs/ht leads need changing.
I read in the Fiat manual I have under the part about engine management fixed light bit and it says that it can cause high consumption and bad performance, which it has.
Any help would be grateful, thanks

That light can illuminate for thousands (literally) of reasons.

You need to get the car plugged into diagnostic equipment, by either buying a cheap handheld device or getting a garage to do it.

The codes read from the car wont probably tell you exactly whats wrong with it, but will narrow your search down significantly.

You car is '51 and petrol so will be EOBD compliant, s you can buy either a cheap handheld reader for about £25 on ebay, cable for laptop for £45 or take it to a garage (upto about £45).

If you are lucky depending where you live there may well be a suitably equipped member willing to help you for a pint or a cuppa?

Best of luck

Ok thanks.

I had it MOT'd at the same garage I had the ECU and coil packs. Think I may try somewhere else though to see what they have to say about it.

If it had a misfire would that cause the engine management light to come on? and a misfire causes high fuel consumption?

Yes on both points. Is the car misfiring?

Easiest and cheapest test is to start the car in the dark with the bonnet up. Any blue flashes indicate a HT electrical "leak" which must be eliminated if the car is ever to run properly.

You might also look at the lambda sensor -- can be tested with a multimeter, lots of stuff on the Interweb.

I don't actually know if the car IS misfiring but when i'm stopped still with the engine running it shudders. The power tends to drop every now and then when I got from 1st to 2nd as I said.

I'll give that starting it up a go and see what happens