hmmm. Thanks for the honest analysis. I really hope the mechanic will not claim that he's thrown away the removed thermostat. I will go there right after leaving work today. In case he claims such, I wont have option than to get another one. Do you have an idea of where and how much I can get it?

I will have the thermostat fixed back and then have the car scanned in order to have an idea of what is actually wrong with the system.

Thanks a bunch once again.