Hi - My 2000 16v Punto sporting has got some serious transmission problems. When driving normally the revs erratically drop out and there is a total lack of power for a second or two before re-accelerating again. During this time the rev counter and temperature gauge drop out completely and the transmission/engine management light comes on.

I have taken it to my local garage and their diagnostic machine could not locate the fault they advised me to take it to the dealers but I want to try and avoid their excessive rates.

Has anyone got any ideas for rectification before I book it into fiat?

Sounds more like an electric fault some where, however if the ECUs brain was having a bit of trouble surely that would be present from start-up. Once the alternators spinning battery power shouldnt be an issue, i can see a sensor failure being under this. So perhaps the ECU is getting a false reading from one of the sensors (either the sensor is on the way out or "dirty").

By taking it to a Fiat dealer they can hopefully find the problem on the diagnostics machine, but it would be quite anoyying if they dont, only other thing i could suggest is a bad earth in the engine bay maybe needs a good clean or is loose.