Hi I really hope help somebody can help me because am fresh out of Ideas.

Two winters ago I was driving my 97 reg punto 55SX and noticed that between 2000 and 3000 rpm the engine lost power "pulled back slightly" however the problem was not sever and as the summer came and days were warmer the trouble went away.
Unfortunately the Problem returned last winter with a vengeance. Now my Punto wouldn’t even start without a little bit of help from some powerstart spray into the carb. If I did manage to get it running the car was a death trap to drive. It pulled back so severely that it was almost like slamming on the brakes or accidentally somehow selecting reverse at 30mph. That’s if you could get to 30 as it simply would not accelerate even with your foot to the floor. The return of the summer has alleviated the problem to an extent but the car is still too dangerous to drive. Here is a list of things I’ve tried to cure the problem but none have worked if anyone has any others Id much appreciate them:-

1. New HT leads
2. New coil.
3. New fuel filter
4. New plugs
5. New lambda sensor (Idea from this forum)
6. New map sensor (Idea from a garage)
7. Full ECU check at two garages both said ECU fine one said change map sensor.
8. New rear exhaust (old one had bit of hole never helped though)
9. Tried removing catalytic converter in case it was blocked no joy.

Thanks!!!

same probloems as me here, last winter it sorta started but was bearable no it doesnt start first time, even though its not that cold and has same jerking feeling yours has.

i havnt tried nothing yet but taking to fiat next weekend to get a check over and will let you know if you havnt sorted it yet

my old 55 had a simlar mystery fault in that if you left it a day withut running the engine it would run pretty much how you described, i was never able too track the fault down and eventually it fixed itself.
you should be checking the fuel pressure, fuel pump, fuel injector for blockages, also it might be worth a look at the rpm sensor.
sticking fuel injector is a good fault that acts up more in the winter like you described.

Ok thanks kebab Ill check it out! It does seem like a fuel restriction sort of problem don't it. Lemzip if you do find anything out from fiat I would also be greatful, knowing my luck I still won't have found the fault by then.

u had a compression test done on it?